1/11/2017 football Edit

Video & Notes: Outland Trophy Banquet embraces past, future

David Eickholt and Matt Reynoldson

Staff

Quotes and nuggets from tonight's banquet:

*** The Outland Trophy is presented annually to the nation’s best interior lineman. This year’s winner was Alabama left tackle Cam Robinson, who towered over other former players and college football legends that attended the banquet. Among those in attendance that were not interviewed were former Nebraska coach Tom Osborne, offensive coordinator Danny Langsdorf, and 1971 Outland Trophy winner Larry Jacobson, as well as several Oklahoma legends and past award winners.

*** Josh Banderas was awarded Cletus Fischer Native Son Award at the banquet, chosen by the coaches for a player that has demonstrated tremendous dedication, leadership, and commitment to the Nebraska football program. Banderas said he was honored to be at the banquet with the likes of Barry Switzer and Cam Robinson. He said he’ll be training for Pro Day and hopes to get a shot with an NFL team come this summer.

*** Former Oklahoma Coach Barry Switzer insisted that if he had gone down to Fort Worth, Texas, that Turner Gill would have been a Sooner. Switzer continued on by saying that letting Gill leave was the biggest recruiting mistake of his career, because Gill was one the first real running quarterbacks in the Tom Osborne era. “If you tried that offense again today, it would still work,” Switzer said.

*** Former Oklahoma quarterback Thomas Lott said that losing to Nebraska in 1978 broke his heart. “It’s something that I never got over. You go on but it’s something you’ll never get over.” Nebraska won the game 17-14 in Lincoln.

*** 1971 Heisman trophy winner Johnny Rodgers said that Oklahoma helped make Nebraska great. He continued on by saying he has high respect for Oklahoma and he can’t wait for when Oklahoma and Nebraska can renew their storied rivalry.

*** Rodgers is bullish on the future of the Nebraska football program. “Our future’s so bright, we have to wear shades,” Rodgers said. “I think we should focus on more junior college guys … I think we have an opportunity to do (well), we just have to stick to it."