Damon Benning at Valentino's Restaurant in Nebraska City

NEBRASKA CITY – Husker Radio Network Analyst Damon Benning offered reasons for why Nebraska’s 20 to 15 victory over Boston College in the Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl matters with emphasis on team chemistry and camaraderie.

Benning: “This is an extremely close-knit team.”

He said there were competitive moments off the field like the snowball fight at Central Park and the sing-off at the Christmas dinner, but the player focus and competitive approach to practice had Benning texting his friends  “take Nebraska by a thousand!”

Benning said he suspects there were points to the season that were the lowest in Coach Matt Rhule’s career. He said the loss of defensive coaches Tony White and Terrance Knighton hurt emotionally, but also opened the door for more relationship building on the defensive side of the ball.

Benning: “He doesn’t have to worry about the offense anymore -- he doesn’t. Next season, you will see a team that reflects the personality of its head coach. I’m excited for it.”

Benning credited Coach Marcus Satterfield for his role in getting tight end Luke Lindenmeyer ready for the bowl game, transitioning Heinrich Haarberg and helping resurrect the momentum for Thomas Fidone.

He said he was impressed with Nebraska’s response to the soggy conditions at Yankee Stadium.  Nebraska went from a strategy of running the ball and taking deep shots, to an intermediate passing game with this “kind of a big-kid between the hashes passing game.”

Benning: “They literally changed or evolved their game plan in real time as the weather went on and we hardly noticed it.”

Benning: “If there’s a side of the ball that flipped its mentality the most it’s by far the offense. I mean they are all tough guys now.”

He called offensive assistants EJ Barthel and Donovan Raiola, Marcus Satterfield and Coordinator Dana Holgorsen as tough coaches when it comes to expectations and accountability.

Benning said he questioned freshman wide receiver Quinn Clark about a lost opportunity for the Wisconsin game and said the Husker legacy player made no excuses about needing to be be able to get lined up correctly.

Benning said there’s no telling how far a close-knit team under the leadership of Coach Rhule can go next season.

Benning: “They are a 7-5 team until they’re not. Right? That’s how it goes.”