Monday notebook: NU already turning page on Oregon win

The looks on the faces of Nebraska’s coaches and players as they spoke to reporters following Saturday’s 35-32 win over then-No. 22 Oregon said everything about just how emotionally draining the game was for the entire team.

Beginning Sunday morning, however, the No. 20 Cornhuskers (3-0) made it clear they needed to move on from their first home win over a ranked non-conference foe since 2001 as quickly as possible.

The message head coach Mike Riley had for his team this week was that despite their good start, this was the beginning of a new season, as the Huskers travel to Northwestern (1-2) for their Big Ten Conference opener and first road game of the season.

Given the Wildcats’ knack for giving NU fits for the past five seasons, Riley said the focus would have to be better than ever this week to avoid a major letdown.

“I think you have to enjoy the fact that you won the game, but then the next day when you start watching the film you better get on to the next one,” Riley said. “There is kind of a euphoria of winning the game, and then a reality when you watch the video, and you have to take it like that for real. You have to use that game as a tool, and you’ve got to convince the players that this is real…

“I think this can be one of your hardest coaching jobs, actually.”

It’s no secret that Northwestern has been a thorn in Nebraska’s side since joining the Big Ten in 2011. While the Huskers have won four of the past six meetings dating back to 2000, the Wildcats have won two of the past five - both in Lincoln - including a 30-28 victory at Memorial Stadium last season.

Even in Nebraska’s wins things have been a struggle. After losing the first meeting as conference opponents 28-25 in 2011, NU edged out Northwestern 29-28 in 2012 and 27-24 in ’13, both of which marked the Huskers’ closest margins of victory in those seasons.

The only reason Nebraska won the game in 2013 was because wide receiver Jordan Westerkamp caught a tipped Hail Mary pass in the end zone as time expired for a walk-off victory.

Because of all those recent nail biters, especially last season’s defeat at home, the Huskers said it wouldn't be difficult to shift their focus fully onto Northwestern.

Even though the Wildcats come in at just 1-2 with losses to Western Michigan and Illinois State, Westerkamp said records and standings all get thrown out the window when Nebraska and Northwestern meet up.

“You have to play extremely well,” Westerkamp said. “On any given day, any Big Ten team can beat another Big Ten team. That’s kind of how it’s been for the past three years that I’ve been here… But I’m fairly confident if we continue to do what we do and prepare our tails off like we did last week for Oregon, we should have no issue going forward.”

- Robin Washut

Tommy Armstrong battled through severe leg cramps so bad he needed IV fluid injections between drives during the second half against Oregon.

While he was able to put mind over matter to finish the victory in heroic fashion, the senior quarterback definitely paid for it on the following morning.

“Sunday when I woke up I was definitely kind of sore, going through cramps and stuff like that,” Armstrong said. “Your muscles start to spasm up on you a lot, and then you get to that stage where you’re real sore, kind of like working out too much and having your legs and arms real sore the next day.

“I’m actually just now getting over my legs being less sore than they were a day or two ago. I’m looking forward to this week.”

The good news is that as sore as Armstrong has been the past few days, neither he nor Riley expected it to affect his status for this week’s game at Northwestern. Armstrong said he plans to basically live in the training room and cold tub this week in order to get his legs ready for Saturday’s Big Ten opener.

“I think he’s fine,” Riley said. “By the time we get to tomorrow’s practice - this is their day off today - I think he’ll be good.”

- Robin Washut

Even though Cethan Carter is regarded by many as Nebraska’s top NFL prospect, the first two games of his senior season didn’t exactly provide him many opportunities to raise his stock.

But after making just two total receptions through two weeks, Carter ended up posting one of the best outings as a Husker in Saturday’s win over Oregon.

Carter hauled in a team-high and career-high five receptions for 48 yards in the victory, including two catches that resulted in first downs.

He temporarily left the game after taking a big hit late in the fourth quarter, but Riley said Carter only got the wind knocked out of him and would be fine.

Riley added on Monday that it was no secret that Nebraska had to continue to get Carter more involved in the offense going forward.

“We need to do that with Cethan Carter,” Riley said. “He needs to have the football. We need to make sure he’s involved. He’s a great weapon for us, and we need to grow that as we go. It was good to get him more involved, he can do more yet.”

- Robin Washut

After a rough start in the first two weeks of the 2016 season, it was hard to know what Nebraska would get from freshman punter Caleb Lightbourn going forward.

Heading into the Oregon week there were a lot of questions about Lightbourn, and not only did he answer them, he was named the Big Ten Freshman of the Week after averaging 47.2 yards on five punts and putting three inside the 20-yard line, including one at the Oregon 3.

Lightbourn became the first Husker to win Big Ten freshman of the week honors since Armstrong in November of 2013.

“I think it definitely made me a lot more confident,” Lightbourn said of this past Saturday’s performance. “I got a lot more confidence through that experience. I definitely understand a lot more now that the process of the game week is critical.

“I was much more focused throughout the week and I feel like that prepared me better than any other time the first two weeks. I was still trying to get into the groove of things (the first two weeks), now I’ve found something that works and I’m going to continue to do that and make sure everything that week is the exact same.”

Lightbourn added for him the struggles early were probably more on the mental side of things.

“I think it was me mostly getting comfortable,” Lightbourn said. “The adjustment was me just getting comfortable, rather than actually getting the technique. I know that deep down I’m here for a reason and I think it was mostly mental. That’s where I made my biggest strides in the mental aspect of the game leading up to Oregon.”

- Sean Callahan

***Riley said receiver Brandon Reilly (hamstring) is still listed as questionable this week. He said Reilly, who missed Saturday's game vs. Oregon, has been doing some running and they're hopeful he'll be able to return for Northwestern.

“One of our biggest question marks yet will be to see how Brandon Reilly comes along," Riley said. "He’s made progress for sure. He’s running a little bit, and we’ll see how he is tomorrow. We sure hope he can play. It’ll be good to get him back.”

***Riley said defensive tackle Mick Stoltenberg played great Saturday in his return from arthroscopic knee surgery two weeks ago, but added Nebraska needed to rotate more on the defensive line than they did vs. the Ducks. Part of that includes getting guys like defensive end Alex Davis more involved in the rotation, he said.

***For the third week in a row, Riley praised senior Brad Simpson for his play on special teams against Oregon. Riley said Simpson was the leading point scorer on special teams this season.

***One thing Nebraska will prepare for this week is Northwestern's natural grass field. He said he's been told Ryan Field has "the tallest grass you've ever seen." The Huskers will practice on the grass practice fields all week.

***Westerkamp, a native of Chicago-area Lombard, Ill., said he'll have probably over 100 family and friends at the game this week for his last game in his home state.

***Armstrong said walk-on wide receiver Bryan Reimers, who caught his first career pass and touchdown on Saturday, has nicknames of "Reim Dog" and "Odell Reim" in the locker room. Armstrong said Reimers has been "working his tail off" ever since he got to Nebraska and more than earned his first catch and touchdown.

***Lightbourn said the last thing the late Sam Foltz told him was to "go and do you, kick the ball the way you know how to kick the ball." Lightbourn said he knows Foltz would have been proud of him on Saturday.