A night crowd that’s no-so-nice, tackling woes, and a returner ready to ‘bust one’

So when Nebraska football coach first encountered NU’s start-of-the-fourth quarter light show last season, he found it a little loud. And also “phenomenal.”

Rhule didn’t tip NU’s hand related to what the program plans to do Saturday night when Colorado rolls into town, but he expects a fired-up crowd.

“It means something to people, so I think it’ll be rocking,” Rhule said, noting the noise from fans during the Huskers’ 40-7 win over UTEP. “… I think it’ll be a great, great, great atmosphere, night game, people have all day to get ready for the game. It should be loud.”

And, Rhule noted, a distinct home-field advantage. Rhule felt like Colorado had that last year at Folsom Field.

“Let’s all be ‘Nebraska Nice,’ on Sunday,” Rhule said. “It should be a loud, loud, raucous atmosphere.”

Rhule said Nebraska’s defense didn’t tackle well after taking bad angles against UTEP’s skill players.

According to Pro Football Focus, NU only missed four tackles on Saturday.

Nebraska’s special teams units played well, Rhule said, though the Huskers narrowly missed a blocked punt.

Rhule praised returners Isaiah Garcia-Castaneda (punts) and Jacory Barney (kickoffs).

“It’s only a matter of time for Jacory, he’ll bust one,” Rhule said. “He almost got out on that one (Saturday).”

The goal on kickoff return, Rhule joked, was to “deliver the baby out to the 20, 25-yard line” and “pop a few” after that initial threshold. Colorado is equally dangerous, Rhule said, in its return game.

“This week it’s about our return game, and it’s also about our punt and kickoff game,” Rhule said. “They’ll bring it out and go make plays.”

Rhule said NU has to continue to improve its four-man pass rush “until it’s elite.”

He conceded that, against Colorado, it may not be easy to rush just four and expect to get home on Shedeur Sanders.

NU played 107 guys and put its No. 2 units into the game with five minutes left in the third quarter.

Rhule had never inserted his second-teamers so early in a game but wanted to give backups an opportunity to play after so few chances to do so in 2023.

Saturday is the start of three straight home night games.

NU also played three straight home night games in 2008 and 2002.

The 1994 national champions will return for the game to be honored on the 30th anniversary of their undefeated season and first crown for coach Tom Osborne.

Frank Solich, a running backs coach on that team and eventual Husker football coach, will also receive a College Football Hall of Fame salute during the game, as well.

Nebraska and Colorado will meet for the 73rd time.

NU leads the series 49-21-2, but CU has won the last three in the series — 2018, 2019 and last season.