If we’re honest – and I think most people are about this – there was not a great deal of hype surrounding the Spring Game this year. However, 27,188 Husker faithful showed up and, once piled in to the lower bowls of east and west stadium for TV, seemed to enjoy themselves a great deal.
But despite a bit of probably-deserved malaise after the crash-out to end the 2025
season and no Spring Game either in ’25, the grills were firing, the sun was shining, the red cups ranneth over and the game was played.
Our first question was simple – which player popped for you the most? And, surprisingly to me, there was a solid majority who wasn’t Jamal Rule.
Question #2 involved the Huskers Softball team who who won a series with #7 UCLA and in so doing rose as high as #4 in the national rankings, and, more importantly, #2 in the national RPI. The #2 was short-lived, however. A Tuesday night 8-2 victory over Creighton – ranked #151 in RPI – dealt a negative jab to the formula and the Huskers dropped back to #3.
The lesson, as always? Creighton ruins everything. And now they want our Crown.
- As well as being at the game, I saw the defensive stat sheets and Derek Wacker tore it up. Still, Jamal Rule seemed to be getting all the hype from media and social media. Well, I guess I wasn’t the only who kept hearing “Tackle by Derek Wacker” repeatedly and you guys made him your top pick at 66%
- Incoming true freshman Rule DID make a splash and was the clear #2 at 21%
- I asked for write-ins and got one – Jashear Whittington, the Pitt sophomore DT transfer. And since defensive line seems to be the position – and for good reason – about which fans are most dubious, one, at least, was keeping an eye on the position. And liked what he saw.
- I spoke above about RPI since it is perhaps the best bellwether for which way the committee will lean come NCAA Softball Selection Sunday. About 80% agree if they do not stumble on their to the post-season, the Huskers have done enough to at least get a top 16 seed and host a regional at Bowlin Stadium.
- 38% believe their brutal non-conference slate and their performance in it, including two wins against #1 teams, will hold up enough to net a top-8 seed and host a Super Regional as well, should they win the regional.
- However, 42% believe the weak Big 10 slate remaining will knock out that contention – without help from 1st round upsets anyway.
- 20% think they are going to tailspin out of both. If that happens, should we beg for a 3-week West Coast road trip to play Washington, Oregon and UCLA next season? Hey, there’s Zoom for their classes.
A Couple SB Nation Final Four National Polls
- I thought Dan Hurley’s track record might net him a little higher finish, but yes – ‘Zona and Michigan are the top two.
- Yes, I know Hurley is an absolute ass at times, but the man can coach.
- There was no doubt how this one was gonna end up, amirite?
- 3% remember. THEY REMEMBER US!!
