Common Fan

Nebraska football has always done things its own way. The sellout streak. The triple option. The Blackshirts. But perhaps nothing captures the heart of the program quite like the walk-on tradition. In the latest episode of the Common Fan Podcast, we tackle one of the toughest Mount Rushmore categories yet: who are the four greatest walk-ons in Nebraska football history? With decades of incredible stories to choose from, narrowing the list to just four proved far more difficult than we expected. The Stories Behind the Legends Many walk-ons have incredible stories of persistence that culminate in getting on the field for a few plays by the time they’re seniors. But some become All-Americans or NFL standouts. And a few have helped define entire eras of Nebraska football. We revisit the remarkable careers of Isaiah “I.M.” Hipp, Jared Tomich, Langston Coleman, Joel Makovicka, Spencer Long, Adam Treu, Alex Henery, Sam Koch, and many more. Along the way, longtime Nebraska sportswriter Mike Babcock shares incredible historical context—including the unforgettable story of Langston Coleman, whose journey from Washington, D.C., to Lincoln helped launch one of the most iconic traditions in college football. If you love Husker history, this conversation is packed with stories you may have never heard before. One of the Closest Mount Rushmore Votes Yet Unlike several of our previous Rushmore episodes, there wasn’t a clear consensus after the first few names. Jared Tomich and I.M. Hipp quickly emerged as unanimous selections, but the final two spots sparked one of the most spirited debates of the entire series. The panel needed a true down-to-the-wire vote to settle the mountain. It was a good reminder of the unique nature of the walk-on tradition. So many have made an impact for the Nebraska football team over the years, embodying what’s best about the state: hard work, humility, and persistence. Our Final Mount Rushmore After plenty of debate, storytelling, and a little good-natured disagreement, the Common Fan panel landed on this Mount Rushmore of Nebraska football walk-ons: Jared Tomich, Isaiah “I.M.” Hipp, Langston Coleman, and Joel Makovicka. Agree? Disagree? Think someone else deserved a spot on the mountain? We’d love to hear your picks. A huge thank you to longtime Nebraska sportswriter Mike Babcock for joining us for this episode, and to Brandon Vogel of the Counter Read newsletter for once again helping us work through another enthusiastic Nebraska football debate. 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! #nebraska #nebraskacornhuskers #podcast #nebraskafootball #huskers #huskerfootball #collegefootball #collegefootball26 #collegefootballpodcast #collegefootballrecruiting #collegefootballfans #walkon #walkons #bigten #bigtenfootball #big8 #big12 #blackshirts #husker #huskerpower #gobigred #gbr #gbr4life #podcast #podcastclips #lnk #oma #nebraska #commonfan #commonfanpodcast

The Common Fan Podcast continues with its summer Mount Rushmore series, and this time the boys take on what may be the toughest challenge yet: Nebraska football’s greatest offensive players…not including quarterbacks. When you consider the Huskers’ incredible history at running back and offensive line, along with the outstanding tight ends, wide receivers, and even fullbacks they’ve had over the years, narrowing the list to just four feels almost impossible. Joining the conversation is Gary Sharp of the Omaha World-Herald, along with series regular Brandon Vogel of the Counter Read newsletter, as they help debate one of the deepest collections of offensive talent in college football history. The discussion quickly turns into one of the liveliest debates of the entire Rushmore series, including whether off-the-field issues should influence a player’s place on the mountain. The Great Running Back Debate Things heat up quickly as the conversation turns to Lawrence Phillips almost immediately. There is little debate that he was the most naturally gifted running back Nebraska has ever seen. And, he played a critical role on the dominant, championship winning teams of the ‘90s. But how much should the off-the-field issues factor in? Mike Rozier, Ahman Green, Roger Craig, Calvin Jones, Roy Helu, Rex Burkhead, Ameer Abdullah, and several other Husker legends all receive serious consideration, leading to some spirited disagreement around the table. Do Offensive Linemen Get Enough Love? Gary Sharp makes a passionate case that Nebraska’s offensive line legacy deserves more recognition than it often receives. Dave Rimington, Dean Steinkuhler, Aaron Taylor, Bob Brown, Will Shields, Zach Wiegert, Aaron Graham, and others enter the conversation as the group wrestles with just how many linemen deserve a spot on the mountain. You could even make the case that there were enough offensive linemen on the 1990s national championship teams to fill this mount rushmore. Nebraska’s long and storied history of having great play in the trenches was a key to its success over many decades, and there are many deserving candidates. Can You Tell Nebraska Football’s Story Without This Player? One question keeps resurfacing throughout the episode: can you tell the story of Nebraska football without this player? That simple test becomes the lens through which the group evaluates stars from every era, from Johnny Rodgers and Ed Weir to more recent greats like Ahman Green and Ameer Abdullah. The Final Mountain After plenty of debate—and a few last-minute changes—the Common Fans land on their final Mount Rushmore of Nebraska offensive players (excluding quarterbacks): Mike Rozier, Dave Rimington, Johnny “The Jet” Rodgers, and Ahman Green. Rodgers emerges as the only player to have made it on two different Mount Rushmores this summer, having also been on the special teams list. Agree? Disagree? Think Lawrence Phillips, Bob Brown, Dean Steinkuhler, Roger Craig, or someone else deserved a spot? We’d love to hear what your Mount Rushmore looks like. Comment on YouTube, or send us an email at commonfangbr@gmail.com. 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! #nebraska #nebraskafootball #nebraskacornhuskers #podcast #collegefootball #huskers #huskerfootball #collegefootballplayoff #collegefootballpodcast #heisman #heismantrophy #optionfootball #tripleoption #johnnyrodgers #ahmangreen #lawrencephillips #mikerozier #irvingfryar #ameerabdullah #tomosborne #bobdevaney #llnk #oma #nebraska #nebraskafootball #commonfan #commonfanpodcast

The Mount Rushmore series continues, and this time the Common Fans tackle a category that doesn’t always get the attention it deserves—but perhaps it should. Nebraska football’s best teams had excellent special teams units. The program has produced legendary return men, clutch kickers, and game-changing punters. It’s no exaggeration to say excelling in special teams was part of the formula that made the best Husker teams so successful. The challenge? Figuring out which four game changing players belong on the mountain. A Surprisingly Deep Pool of Candidates At first glance, special teams might seem like one of the easier Rushmore categories. But when you start building a list, the names just keep coming. Johnny Rodgers. Alex Henery. Kris Brown. Josh Brown. Brett Maher. Sam Foltz. DeJuan Groce. Tyrone Hughes. Barron Miles. Every era of Nebraska football seems to have its own special teams legend worthy of consideration. The result is one of the most spirited debates of the entire series so far. Mike’l Severe Brings the Expertise To help sort through the candidates, the Common Fans are joined by Mike’l Severe, Executive Director of the Jet Award Foundation and one of the foremost voices on special teams in college football. Returning series guest Brandon Vogel of the Counter Read newsletter also joins the discussion, bringing his trademark mix of historical perspective and sharp analysis. Together, the group explores what should matter most in a special teams Mount Rushmore conversation. Is it awards? Statistics? Big-game moments? Or simply the ability to change a game with a single play? As always, there are strong opinions and more than a few disagreements along the way. More Than Just Kicking and Punting One of the themes that emerges throughout the episode is just how important special teams have been to Nebraska’s identity over the decades. From game-breaking punt returns to clutch field goals and punters who were so good we took their excellence for granted, the third phase of the game has often played an outsized role in some of Nebraska football’s greatest seasons. The conversation also serves as a reminder that many of the most memorable plays in program history didn’t happen on offense or defense. They happened when nobody was expecting it. Who Made the Final Four? By the end of the episode, the Common Fans narrow the field and reveal their final Special Teams Mount Rushmore: Johnny Rodgers, Kris Brown, Alex Henery, and Barron Miles. Whether you agree with the selections or have a few names of your own, this is one discussion every Husker fan will want to be part of. 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! #nebraska #podcast #collegefootball #huskers #football #bigten #nebraskafootball #nebraskacornhuskers #huskerfootball #nebraskapodcast #collegefootballpodcast #collegefootballplayoff #comedy #collegesports #lnk #oma #blackshirts #suh #lavontedavid #huskerpower #huskernation #husker #commonfan #commonfanpodcast

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! #nebraska #podcast #collegefootball #bigten #football #huskers #nebraskafootball #nebraskacornhuskers #huskerfootball #husker #collegefootballpodcast #collegefootballplayoff #college #blackshirts #nndamukongsuh #suh #lavontedavid #richglover #grantwistrom #linebacker #lombardiaward #butkusaward #lombardi #butkus #defense #rushmore #halloffame #heisman #heismantrophy #bopelini #charliemcbride #huskers #nebraska #podcast

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! #nebraska #podcast #collegefootball #bigten #football #huskers #nebraskafootball #nebraskacornhuskers #huskerfootball #collegefootballpodcast #husker #blackshirts #tomosborne #bobdevaney #cfbhof #cfbhighlights #halloffame #collegefootballhistory #heisman #natty #nationalchampionships #bigred #gobigred #gbr4life #hailvarsity #noplacelikenebraska #nebraska #podcast