The Common Fans keep rolling with their Mount Rushmore series, and this time the boys tackle one of the toughest categories imaginable: the Mount Rushmore of Nebraska football defenders.

Friend of the program Brian Christopherson from Husker247 joins the conversation, along with Brandon Vogel of Counter Read newsletter, to sort through decades of Blackshirt greatness and try to identify the four most important defensive players in Nebraska football history.

Suuuuuuuuuuuuuuuh!!!!!!!

Some debates are hard. This one is not.

Ndamukong Suh’s 2009 season remains one of the most dominant individual seasons in college football history. The Texas game alone is basically its own museum exhibit: seven tackles for loss, four and a half sacks, one of the great single game performances of all time.

Suh also played for Bo Pelini at a critical juncture in Nebraska history, as the program was getting back on stable ground after the disappointing Bill Callahan era.

Everyone agrees: Suh is on the mountain.

Is there a Blackshirt with a better résumé than Grant Wistrom?

Wistrom’s résumé speaks for itself: three national championships, a Lombardi Award, Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year, and one of the defining motors in Nebraska football history.

But the discussion goes beyond stats. Wistrom helped define the edge, attitude, and relentlessness of the 1990s Blackshirts. He played a critical role on Tom Osborne’s best teams, and along with Jason Peter and others, helped set the tone for the final championship run of the Osborne era.

Was Rich Glover Suh before Suh?

The conversation reaches back to Rich Glover, one of the greatest defensive linemen in college football history and a cornerstone of Nebraska’s early-1970s dominance.

Glover finished third in the Heisman voting in 1972, won the Outland and Lombardi trophies, and helped establish Nebraska’s defensive identity long before the 1990s Blackshirts became a national brand.

Who gets the final spot?

That’s where things get interesting.

The group debates Trev Alberts, Lavonte David, Mike Brown, Ralph Brown, Jerry Murtaugh, Barrett Ruud, Jason Peter, Larry Jacobson, Wayne Meylan, and several others. Alberts has the Butkus Award. David has the game-changing plays and modern-era dominance. Mike Brown has the tackling, leadership, and NFL legacy. Murtaugh has championship-era significance.

In the end, the final spot goes to Lavonte David, giving the Common Fan defensive Mount Rushmore a final four of Suh, Wistrom, Glover, and David.

A Program Built on Defense

More than anything, this episode is a reminder that Nebraska’s path back to national relevance probably has to start where so many great Husker teams were built: on defense, and especially in the trenches.

The Blackshirts have produced an embarrassment of riches over the years. The hope now is that the next great Nebraska defense is still ahead.

Check out the episode on YouTube, listen on the Common Fan website, or find it on any audio platform where you get your podcasts.

As always, GBR for LIFE!

The Common Fans’ Mount Rushmore series rolls on, and with this latest episode, we’re looking at the men in the headsets. Who belongs on the Mount Rushmore of Nebraska football coaches? And how do you even begin to compare head coaches, coordinators, assistants, strength coaches, and figures from completely different eras of Husker history?

To help sort it all out, the boys are joined by two friends of the program: Henry Cordes, longtime Omaha World-Herald reporter, author of multiple books on Nebraska football, and now investigative reporter for the Flatwater Free Press; and Brandon Vogel of Counter Read newsletter, who is back with us for every episode of this summer series.

Two Obvious Faces on the Mountain

There’s no real suspense at the top. Bob Devaney and Tom Osborne laid the foundation of modern Nebraska football. They are Nebraska football. If you surveyed every Nebraska football fan on planet earth, there would be 100% agreement on this point.

Devaney is the program’s George Washington: the coach who took Nebraska from afterthought to national power and delivered the Huskers’ first two national championships. Osborne is the Abraham Lincoln figure: the coach who preserved, perfected, and elevated what Devaney built, ultimately producing one of the greatest runs in college football history.

Those two are automatic. The real debate starts after that.

How far back should we be looking?

One of the best parts of this conversation is the deep dive into early Nebraska football history. Henry and Brandon both make a strong case for Jumbo Stiehm, whose Nebraska teams from 1911 to 1915 went 35-2-3, won five conference titles, and helped establish Nebraska as a serious football program long before the Devaney/Osborne era.

The question becomes: how much weight should we give to a coach from more than a century ago? If Nebraska fans take pride in being one of the winningest programs in college football history, then the early architects of that history deserve serious consideration.

Which assistant coaches belong in this conversation?

Boyd Epley, Monte Kiffin, Charlie McBride, Milt Tenopir, and Frank Solich all come up in the conversation.

Epley helped revolutionize strength and conditioning, not just at Nebraska but across college football. Kiffin was the first Nebraska assistant to hold the title of defensive coordinator, and helped shape the Blackshirts during the Devaney era. McBride’s defenses became the backbone of the 1990s dynasty. Tenopir helped build the Pipeline. Solich played a massive role as a longtime assistant before taking over as head coach.

Who made the final four?

After plenty of debate, the group lands on four names: Tom Osborne, Bob Devaney, Jumbo Stiehm, and Monte Kiffin.

That leaves some painful omissions, especially Boyd Epley and Charlie McBride. But that’s what makes these conversations fun. The goal is not simply to pick the most familiar names. It’s to identify the most important and consequential figures in Nebraska football history.

And with coaches, that conversation runs deep.

Check out the episode on YouTube, listen on the Common Fan website, or find it on any audio platform where you get your podcasts.

As always, GBR for LIFE!

The Common Fans’ summer series is officially underway, and the boys are starting in the most obvious place: quarterbacks.

This summer, the Common Fans are working to build the definitive Nebraska Football Mount Rushmore. Not just the four “best” names by stats alone, but the most important, most consequential figures in Husker history. Impact, championships, leadership, cultural significance, defining moments – everything will be considered.

For episode one, Mitch Sherman from The Athletic and the Locked On Nebraska podcast joins the show, along with Brandon Vogel from Counter Read newsletter, who will be part of every episode in the series.

First up: the Mount Rushmore of Nebraska quarterbacks.

Who is the first face on the mountain?

There was no debate here. Tommie Frazier is the obvious starting point.

Two national championships. A 33-3 record as a starter. The stolen Heisman. The swagger. The standard. The mentality.

More than anything, Frazier helped define what Nebraska football became at its absolute peak. The guys discuss how his toughness and leadership shaped the entire program, and why he remains the clearest, easiest choice in this whole exercise.

How much weight do championships carry?

That question comes up quickly as the conversation turns to Jerry Tagge, Scott Frost, and the other quarterbacks who played a part on national championship teams.

Tagge’s case is built around the first two championships in program history, including the Game of the Century and the iconic goal-line moment against LSU. Frost’s case is more complicated, given everything that happened later as Nebraska’s head coach, but his role in the 1997 title season still matters.

The Common Fans wonder if it’s possible to separate the player from everything that came after – or if it’s necessary to take it all into consideration.

The Turner Gill Factor

For several members of the panel, Turner Gill was an easy choice.

He didn’t win a national championship, but he helped transform Nebraska’s offense, beat Oklahoma, and quarterbacked some of the best teams Tom Osborne ever had. His impact on the program went beyond stats, and his later role on Osborne’s staff only adds to his legacy.

What about Crouch, Berringer, Martinez, and the others?

Eric Crouch also gets strong support, and for good reason: Heisman Trophy, unforgettable moments, and the last true flash of national-title-level joy for Nebraska fans.

The guys also discuss Taylor Martinez, Tommy Armstrong, Adrian Martinez, Steve Taylor, Joe Ganz, Zac Taylor, and others who deserve to be remembered — even if they don’t quite make the final four.

And of course, it is agreed among the group that Brook Berringer deserves his own separate monument, given his contributions to the program, and the place he holds in Nebraska football history.

So who makes the final Mount Rushmore of Nebraska QBs?

After plenty of debate, the crew settles on four names: Tommie Frazier, Eric Crouch, Turner Gill, and Jerry Tagge.

The quarterbacks are only the beginning. Over the next several weeks, the Common Fans will tackle coaches, offensive players, defensive players, special teams, walk-ons, and finally the ultimate Mount Rushmore of Nebraska football.

Listen to the full debate by checking out the episode on YouTube, listening on the Common Fan website, or finding it on any audio platform where you get your podcasts.

As always, GBR for LIFE!

The Common Fans are back with a little housekeeping and one big announcement: the next Common Fan summer series has officially arrived.

Mount Rushmore Series

For the third straight summer, the boys will do a series of episodes focused on an important segment of Nebraska football history. Two summers ago, it was The Reckoning – six episodes focused on the coaches, administrators, bad decisions, and history of the post-Osborne era. Last summer, it was TO – an in-depth look at the coaching career and legacy of the great Tom Osborne.

What is the Common Fan summer series this year?

Over the next several weeks, the Common Fans are setting out to build the definitive Mount Rushmore of Nebraska football.

Over the course of the series, the crew will break things down across several categories: quarterbacks, offensive players (non-QBs), defensive players, special teams, walk-ons, and coaches. Then, after all of that, the guys will try to pull everything together and determine the ultimate four faces on Nebraska’s Mount Rushmore.

The goal is not simply to identify the “best” players or coaches by stats alone. Like the actual Mount Rushmore, this is about impact on the program, cultural significance, leadership, championships, defining moments, and what each person meant to Nebraska football.

Who belongs in the conversation? Some names are obvious. Some are surprisingly difficult. Some players have the stats. Some have the rings. Some have unforgettable moments. Some helped define entire eras of Husker football.

And in classic Common Fan fashion, the debates get serious, nostalgic, funny, and occasionally ridiculous.

Who’s Joining the Series?

Friend of the program Brandon Vogel will be part of every episode, bringing his usual mix of historical perspective, research, analytics, and deep Nebraska football knowledge.

Each episode will also feature another great guest from the Husker media world, including Mitch Sherman, Henry Cordes, Brian Christopherson, Gary Sharp, Mike Babcock, and Mike’l Severe.

In other words, the Common Fans brought in reinforcements.

Who Won the Oak Barn Beef Giveaway?

As Husker fans kick off the summer grilling season, the Common Fans partnered with Oak Barn Beef on a fun giveaway contest. Thanks to everyone who entered by sharing favorite Husker players and memories. The emails were passionate, heartfelt, and a reminder of why this fan base is so much fun.

Check out the episode on YouTube, listen on the Common Fan website, or find it on any audio platform where you get your podcasts.

As always, GBR for LIFE!

There are certain conversations that only happen during a Nebraska football offseason. Who’s going to start at quarterback. Whether the defense can stop the run. If Matt Rhule can finally engineer the leap everyone has been waiting for.

And then there are the truly important debates…like what are the best food items in Memorial Stadium history?

This week, the Common Fans take a joyful trip through the culinary history of Nebraska football Saturdays, ranking the stadium staples that defined a generation of Husker fans.

Part of the Gamedy Experience

The smell of Valentino’s pizza walking through the concourse. The striped popcorn boxes. Fairbury hot dogs. Runzas on cold November Saturdays. The tastes and smells Nebraska fans have encountered at Memorial Stadium are as much a part of the gameday experience as anything else.

The boys debate which foods are most identified with Memorial Stadium, and discuss their favorites. They discuss how somehow Valentino’s and Runza might just taste better at the stadium than anywhere else. They debate acceptable toppings for Fairbury hot dogs. And they talk about how the stadium popcorn is like a drug.

There’s also a realization that certain foods are tied directly to eras of Nebraska football. Some items instantly transport you back to childhood, to freezing games in the late 90s, to halftime walks with your dad, or to sitting shoulder-to-shoulder in packed rows while balancing pizza on your knees.

Side Dishes

The episode also brings plenty of chaos. Geoff develops a bizarre fascination with becoming the official Memorial Stadium “Wiener Slinger” operator. There are discussions about condiment strategy, concourse traffic patterns, and the ethics of stadium nacho cheese.

But underneath all of it is a genuine appreciation for what Memorial Stadium means to Nebraska fans. Because even the food carries memories.

Impact of Upcoming Stadium Renovations

Finally, the episode touches on the upcoming stadium renovations and the changing nature of the game-day experience. Expanded concourses, premium seating, new restaurant concepts, and more food options than ever before will fundamentally change the stadium experience. Perhaps even for the better. But there is some melancholy attached to the conversation, because every modernization quietly moves Memorial Stadium a little farther away from the version many fans grew up with.

Every fan listening probably has their own favorite stadium food, their own routine, their own memory attached to a Saturday in Lincoln. This episode tries to put all of those memories on the table.

Check out the episode on YouTube, listen on the Common Fan website, or find it on any audio platform where you get your podcasts.

As always, GBR for LIFE!

The Common Fans rekindle a time honored offseason tradition by looking at the most annoying coaches the Nebraska football team will face in 2026. Joined by friend of the program Nic Olsen, the boys have a rollicking good time talking through the head coaches that make them laugh, squirm, or even angry. Not necessarily coaches from the biggest rivals or the best teams. Just the guys who drive Husker fans absolutely insane.

As it turns out, the 2026 schedule is loaded with candidates.

What Makes a Coach Annoying?

The episode starts by trying to define the category itself. The Common Fans dive into the traits that make certain coaches uniquely aggravating to Nebraska fans:

• smugness after wins
• endless whining to officials
• fake humility
• gimmicky culture-building
• media overexposure
• acting like beating Nebraska is the Super Bowl
• or simply existing while coaching Iowa.

And once the categories are established, the floodgates open.

The Ferentz Factor

The Common Fans kick things off with Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz, who somehow continues ruining Thanksgiving weekends year after year while barely opening his mouth when he talks. Seriously—Nick Olsen points out that Ferentz might have missed his calling as a ventriloquist.

The conversation quickly spirals into:

• Ferentz family HOA drama
• His permanent sideline smirk
• Why Nebraska-Iowa losses hit differently on Black Friday
• And the simple fact that Iowa always seems to win ugly while Nebraska finds painful ways to lose

Fitz and Bert Enter the Chat

Even after leaving Northwestern, Pat Fitzgerald’s name rises to the top of the list. Nebraska fans have suffered through too many of Northwestern’s random upset wins, along with the endless endless “he does more with less” narrative (even when he does less with less). Not to mention the infamous onside kick game.

The guys debate whether Fitzgerald’s move to Michigan State will actually work—or if the college football world simply romanticized his Northwestern years too much.

Meanwhile, MattyO admits something he never expected to admit: he’s kind of starting to like Bret Bielema.

Not completely. But a little bit.

Bert still checks plenty of annoying coach boxes. But there’s also something undeniably entertaining about him. And yes…the guys revisit the infamous “I outkicked my coverage” quote about his wife.

Is Curt Cignetti the New King of Annoying Coaches?

Curt Cignetti stormed onto the scene with his famous “Google me. I win.” quote—and unfortunately for everyone else, he backed it up immediately.

The Common Fans wrestle with what to think about Cignetti. While there is plenty of respect for what he has accomplished, everyone can agree there is a growing desire to watch somebody finally shut him up

Let’s Not Forget About Ryan Day

Geoff in Lincoln makes a passionate closing argument for Ohio State’s Ryan Day, complete with:

• “Just For Men” beard accusations
• Lou Holtz fight references
• And the belief that literally nobody outside Columbus likes this man

Also Included in This Episode:

• Eddie George somehow coaching Bowling Green
• Lane Kiffin discourse
• PJ Fleck catching random stray bullets
• Dan Lanning’s “possibly on cocaine” Big Ten title game celebration
• And one of the more absurd George W. Bush impersonations in Common Fan history

Check out the episode on YouTube, listen on the Common Fan website, or find it on any audio platform where you get your podcasts.

As always, GBR for LIFE!

This week, the Common Fans tackle one of their favorite offseason traditions: discussing and debating the three games that will define Nebraska football’s 2026 season. Not necessarily the biggest games. Not necessarily the toughest games. But the games that will ultimately shape how we feel about Matt Rhule and the direction of the program.

A Sneaky Big One in East Lansing

The guys start with Nebraska’s first road trip of the season: at Michigan State.

It’s early. It’s the first game of conference play. It’s a road environment against a respected new coach in Pat Fitzgerald. And maybe most importantly—it’s the kind of game Nebraska simply cannot afford to lose if this season is going to feel different.

Any conversation about the Huskers exceeding expectations–much less making a bowl game–has to involve winning this game. A win will likely have a “taking care of business” feel for the fan base, and may not move the needle much. But a loss will feel like an ominous sign for the rest of the season.

The Playoff Teams

The Big Red plays three teams that have made the College Football Playoff the last two seasons: 2024 national champion Ohio State, Oregon, and defending national champion Indiana. Can the Huskers get a win against any one of these teams?

Nebraska has the potential to be 4–1 or 5–0 heading into the Indiana game. If that’s the case, Memorial Stadium will be electric. The Huskers could be ranked and there will be national attention on the game.

The boys in red follow that up with a trip to Eugene the very next week.

The guys talk through the need for, at the very least, a competitive performance against a top-tier program. But a win against one of these top conference foes would be a game changing turning point for Matt Rhule and his program.

About November

Every conversation eventually leads to November. Nebraska football has not been good in November for years, and that includes the Rhule era. The guys zero in on games like at Illinois and home against Washington (which is actually on October 31, but we lump it in with the other November games) as pivotal “prove-it” opportunities for a program trying to shake the reputation that it fades late in the year.

If Nebraska wants to take the next step as a program, it can’t just beat the teams it’s supposed to beat in September. It has to start showing up in November.

And Then There’s Iowa

Perhaps unsurprisingly, all three Common Fans have Iowa on their list of games that will define the season. The frustration pours out in this segment—not because Iowa is some unbeatable monster, but because Nebraska has repeatedly found ways to lose games it probably should have won.

The boys dive into why Iowa has become Nebraska’s rival in the Big Ten era, how Husker fans are exhausted watching Iowa play “clean football” while Nebraska implodes, and why the Big Red needs to run off their own win streak against the Hawkeyes.

At some point, Nebraska has to start winning this series consistently again.

Is That Optimism Starting to Creep Back In?

Summertime’s close, which means fall camp is right around the corner. Anthony Colandrea is preaching confidence. And the boys are starting to get excited for Nebraska football again.

Not blindly optimistic. But hopeful. And ready for football.

Check out the episode on YouTube, listen on the Common Fan website, or find it on any audio platform where you get your podcasts.

As always, GBR for LIFE!

After an offseason of hand wringing, gnashing of teeth, and some serious skepticism surrounding Nebraska football, the Common Fans take a step back and try something different this week: an episode built around optimism. The boys have not been immune from airing their grievances about the way the 2025 season ended, so they decide to take an honest look at why and how Nebraska football could take a step forward in 2026.

Is Husker Nation Being Too Negative?

There’s no denying how last season ended. The 1–5 finish. The feeling of the missed “Year 3 leap.” The manner in which the Big Red lost the final three games. Even the usually Kool Aid-drinking Common Fans have had their share of frustrations during the offseason.

But one thing hasn’t changed: nobody here is rooting against Matt Rhule. The best thing for the program would be for Rhule to figure out how to get Nebraska over the hump, and back to national relevance.

Matt Rhule Has Already Raised the Floor

Two straight bowl games. Back-to-back winning seasons. A program that, objectively, is in a better place than it was three years ago. It’s not where anyone wants to be yet—but it’s much better than where we were.

Perhaps the progress of the last three years sometimes gets lost in the broader conversation. Husker fans should never apologize for wanting more, never apologize for expecting greatness. But we also must acknowledge that the program was at its lowest point in decades when Rhule took over.

Rhule Doesn’t Stand Pat

One thing you can’t accuse Rhule of is standing still. The boys in red will enter the 2026 season with a new defensive coordinator, a new offensive line coach, a run game coordinator, and several high impact transfers. It’s important for Husker fans to acknowledge that, when something hasn’t worked, Rhule has owned it, and he’s made changes.

Could the Offense Finally Look Different?

This might be the biggest reason for optimism. A new, mobile quarterback with three years of starting experience at the Power Five level provides an opportunity for a fresh start. The Dylan Raiola era brought hype, attention, and expectations. But it also may have taken the program in a direction that ultimately wasn’t beneficial.

Add in what looks to be a significantly upgraded offensive line, weapons at wide receiver, and a young but promising running back room, and there’s a real path to something Nebraska hasn’t consistently had under Rhule: a physical, reliable run game.

Is the Tough Schedule Actually an Opportunity?

As has been discussed ad nauseum since the 2025 season ended, the 2026 schedule is a beast. Nebraska plays three playoff teams in Indiana, Ohio State, and Oregon, and the rest of the Big Ten schedule isn’t exactly a cake walk.

But the difficulty of the schedule is also an opportunity. If Nebraska is going to take a real step forward, it has to show up in the biggest games anyway. Beat some times they’re not supposed to, and things around the program will start to feel different.

Check out the episode on YouTube, listen on the Common Fan website, or find it on any audio platform where you get your podcasts.

As always, GBR for LIFE!