Nebraska athletic director Bill Moos was live on Sports Nightly radio Tuesday evening. Below is a recap of what Moos had to say!
FIRST SEGMENT
Asked about football
Asked if he will use this season to judge progress
Asked about financial impact
Asked about the snow in Memorial Stadium
FIRST SEGMENT
Asked about football
- We've got things to straighten out and we have the ability to do that. This conference is a great conference.
- The frustrating thing is the inconsistency. The defense has been the best he's seen since he's been here, but the offense hasn't caught fire.
- He doesn't interfere with sports during the season, but will talk with staff after the season about changes to set sights on the future like he does each year.
- we have playmakers and sometimes we look brilliant, but kids have to step up and have big games. Nobody is more frustrated than Frost and his coaches, but as the season wraps up, now is the time to talk about some of the inconsistencies.
- They are confident they can get the new facility started this summer. He is very pleased with the support he has received.
- They have lots of small gifts of funds for the new facility, and they haven't gone public with everything. Everyone has stayed supportive of the idea.
- We gave the fans an opportunity to refund gifts and season ticket money, and about 20% chose to do that. They also had the option to move those funds to next season, but also allowed fans to use the money as a donation and they had over 7 million dollars received as gifts.
- They are about $70 million short of where they normally are with their income, but have cut costs about $30 million. However, they were able to take out of a reserve and avoid debt. Some other departments around the conference weren't able to do the same.
- Of all of the furloughed employees, about half are back working. They will be back with their original salaries.
- They are hopeful with the vaccines and the progress there will be sports in the spring and fans at fall football because fans deserve to be in Memorial Stadium.
Asked if he will use this season to judge progress
- He likes to see progress, but that has been harder with the challenges.
- Basketball is much improved on both men and women's sides.
- Volleyball has capability to win a national championship.
- Recruiting has been hard and most of new recruits haven't been on campus. However, the class looks good.
- Players get to have this season as a free-bee.
- Record played the main role. We are heading to New Jersey and will be ready to go. Location was based on who had less games.
- We are still planning to play in Dublin. A lot of tickets would have normally been sold this fall, but with everything it has to catch up.
- He has no clue when they will have a full baseball schedule. There will be a reduced number of games. Mostly conference only.
- Wrestling is planning to compete along with all other sports then. Reduced schedules, but will play.
- He thinks there will be a spring game for football. He wants to get all practices in and have fans in the stadium. The players miss that, and many came to Nebraska for that.
- He would argue for fans to be in the stadium for the spring game because it isn't putting other schools at risk. The Big 10 wouldn't have a say in that, but the would have to follow Lancaster County restrictions.
Asked about financial impact
- They will continue to offer the same programs. Not any cuts will be made.
- They need to start selling tickets again. TV money hasn't been bad, but they are hoping to get back to normal as soon as possible.
- In all, Big Ten teams will make between $40 to $42 million in TV money, compared to $54 million last year.
- They are gravelling a parking lot so fans can park closer to the Devaney Center.
- Part of the plan is to build a new track at innovation campus.
- They have been doing zoom coaches meetings every two weeks. He wants everyone to have an opportunity to give him feedback and ask questions. Things like testing and travel.
- The coaches are fierce competitors and they want to win. Those are the people he wants around.
Asked about the snow in Memorial Stadium
- The tractor broke down on the field, and they had to shovel the snow by hand off the field. He thinks they need another tractor! Great work by the staff to get that done.
- Moos, being a rancher sold his herd, but they still have the ambiance and there are still cattle nearby, so he can still get his boots dirty if he feels like it.
- He wishes all fans happy holidays, merry Christmas and to take care of yourselves. He can't wait to see people back in stadiums.
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