Here is a full rundown of what Nebraska head coach Scott Frost and his players had to say during Monday's weekly press conference at Memorial Stadium...
Turner Corcoran is up
***Corcoran said NU knew the first half of the season was going to be a grind with eight straight games, but he said the team was prepared for it and is now looking forward to getting two byes coming up.
***Corcoran said he wasn’t ever concerned about the offense getting shut out in the first half because he knew they would get rolling eventually. That’s exactly how it played out in the second half.
***Corcoran said he felt “a different energy” on Saturday than in previous games where guys were dialed in and focused from start to finish.
***Corcoran said getting up after another emotional loss wasn’t a different challenge than any other week. They know they have to get the job done this week because of what a win would mean for their bowl chances.
***Corcoran said Michigan defensive end Aiden Hutchinson was “a hell of a player” but he felt they had a good game plan for him of letting him run up field and Adrian Martinez stepping up in the pocket and “being the great athlete he is.”
***Corcoran said Rahmir Johnson had been “running his tail off” and the offense had all the confidence in the world in him in the backfield.
***Corcoran said quarterbacks aren’t always the toughest players, but Martinez was “a tough son of a bitch.” He said Martinez sets the tone with his toughness every day in practice and in games.
***That’s all for Corcoran.
Samori Toure is up.
***Toure said there were a lot of good things to take away from the second half vs. Michigan on offense. He said the biggest thing was showing how important it was to stay on schedule and get early first downs to build momentum.
***Toure said most of the team is over a loss by Monday as they turn their attention to the next game. He said you always think about what you could’ve done differently to win, but you can’t dwell on it and let it impact your preparation for the next game.
***Toure said NU's young wide receivers had "a lot of potential" and were fired up to suit up for the first time on Saturday. "At the end of the day, they're still freshmen... But I feel like in time they're going to be really talented and you guys are going to like what you see from them."
***Toure said Martinez was a leader who had "complete control of this team" and dealt with criticism better than any player he'd ever seen.
***That's all for Toure.
Adrian Martinez is up
***Martinez said "nicks and bruises" are part of the game, but the team knows that they have a bye next week and just need to push through.
***Martinez said he felt "really good about the way our team played" vs. Michigan and that the Huskers "fought our ass off." He said they have to take the positives from that game and carry them over to Minnesota.
***Martinez said in retrospect on the late fumble he needed to be more aware of the situation but didn't really think there was much else he could have done differently.
***Martinez said a key for the offense getting going was having faith in the offensive line to handle Michigan's talented defensive front.
***Martinez said he was confident NU would bounce back from the Michigan loss because "this team knows how to battle" and "still, despite our record, we know how good that we are."
"We haven't given up on each other."
***Martinez said Bryce Benhart was "well-equipped" to handle stepping in when he was called upon. Martinez said he went through a similar situation as Benhart last year when he got benched, and the hardest part from the "a competitive standpoint."
Martinez said Benhart was "a tough guy" who has a "passion" for football.
***Martinez said Minnesota's defense was "a group that flies around and is physical" that has given Nebraska problems over the years. "We have to respond to that."
***Martinez said his experiences over the last three years have shaped him into the player and person he is today, and Corcoran's compliment about his toughness was a great honor.
***That's all for Martinez.
Austin Allen is up
***Allen said Minnesota has "had our number the past couple of years." He said a lot of that was Minnesota was the more physical and disciplined team in those games.
***Allen said part of making it through an eight-game grind like this was trusting the coaching staff to allow you to give it your all every day and knowing the staff will "take care of you" by managing your daily workload.
***Allen said the Michigan game was "a great building block" for the offense, and he was excited going into halftime because "there was a lot on our play sheet that we hadn't called."
***Allen said knowing there are only five games left this season, "there's not a lot of time left to accomplish what want to do this season." But he remained confident they could still achieve their goals and that Minnesota was now the biggest game of the year.
***Allen said Benhart responded to his situation exactly like he expected. "He's not going to sit around and pout" and Benhart stepped in when his number was called on Saturday.
***Allen said he realized NU was in an illegal formation on his touchdown catch vs. Michigan. He was thankful it wasn't called. "I probably would've strangled somebody..."
***That's all for Allen.
Damion Daniels is up
***Daniels said his goal as a captain on defense was instilling a belief that "we the baddest on the field." He said the defense always harps on establishing the line of scrimmage, and he felt NU had done a good job of that this season.
***On Minnesota's offensive line, Daniels said "we've seen people like them" this year and they would be ready for the challenge this week.
***Daniels said the next step for him individually was "affecting the quarterback" more and improve as a pass rusher.
***That's all for Daniels.
Ben Stille is up
***Stille confirmed that the injury he suffered late against Michigan was "nothing major, I'll be ready to play."
***Stille said he couldn't care less about a bye coming up next week. "We could play 16 games in a row for all I care."
***Stille said Saturday was a physical game because of the nature of Michigan's offense. But he wasn't sure if it was one of the most physical game he'd played.
***Stille said what he remembered most from last year's loss to Minnesota was "them running the ball on us" and Nebraska not being able to get off the field on defense.
***Stille said "discipline" was probably the biggest difference between NU and Minnesota the past two years.
***That's all for Stille.
Scott Frost is up
***Frost said Teddy Prochazka suffered a knee injury and would have surgery next week and was out until the spring. He said they would work on eligibility issues with him playing in five games this season later.
***Frost said Benhart did well when called upon and handled his situation well.
***Frost said the offensive line had improved in the run game, and as a result, the offense as a whole had gotten better by the week.
***Frost said it was tough to see a guy like Prochazka suffer an injury like this given how quickly he was progressing, "but guys come back from injuries like this a lot."
***Frost said some of what NU was able to do on offense in the second half was set up by what they did in the first half with sticking to the running game.
***Frost said Ryan Held being up in the box has been a real benefit, particularly in the option run game.
***Frost said Johnson was probably fifth on the depth chart to start fall camp, and Frost would have been surprised if someone had told him Johnson would have the type of game he did vs. Michigan. Frost gave a lot of credit to Johnson for sticking it out and continuing to work hard.
***Frost said things started to click with Johnson during fall camp when he stopped trying to force things to happen and just let the game come to him.
***Frost said Benhart has "a big opportunity" this week going back home to Minnesota.
***Frost said the game at Minnesota two weeks ago, he felt NU played "really uninspired football" and had some guys "that didn't really want to be there."
***Frost said it would be important for Nebraska to maximize the snaps it got on offense because of the way Minnesota likes to control the clock on offense.
***Frost said NU went helmets only today in practice after "a really physical game on Saturday." He said the players responded with a "really clean" day and good attention to detail.
***Frost said Nouri Nouili had exceeded his expectations so far, but the key now was proving consistency and doing it every week and every day.
***Frost said the difference between this team and the one in 2018 was "we're a little more of a grown-up team" that has "guys who love football."
***Frost said athletic director Trev Alberts went around to each NU assistant coach Sunday and told them how proud he was of their work.
***Frost said he and Alberts get together every Sunday and talk about the day before. "He's been awesome. ... He was in the locker room Saturday night. I know he went around to some of the players and gave them encouragement."
***Frost said it was never an issue with talent with William Przystup, it was doing his job on every opportunity. Frost said Przystup had done a good job of that the last couple of weeks.
***That's all for Frost.
Turner Corcoran is up
***Corcoran said NU knew the first half of the season was going to be a grind with eight straight games, but he said the team was prepared for it and is now looking forward to getting two byes coming up.
***Corcoran said he wasn’t ever concerned about the offense getting shut out in the first half because he knew they would get rolling eventually. That’s exactly how it played out in the second half.
***Corcoran said he felt “a different energy” on Saturday than in previous games where guys were dialed in and focused from start to finish.
***Corcoran said getting up after another emotional loss wasn’t a different challenge than any other week. They know they have to get the job done this week because of what a win would mean for their bowl chances.
***Corcoran said Michigan defensive end Aiden Hutchinson was “a hell of a player” but he felt they had a good game plan for him of letting him run up field and Adrian Martinez stepping up in the pocket and “being the great athlete he is.”
***Corcoran said Rahmir Johnson had been “running his tail off” and the offense had all the confidence in the world in him in the backfield.
***Corcoran said quarterbacks aren’t always the toughest players, but Martinez was “a tough son of a bitch.” He said Martinez sets the tone with his toughness every day in practice and in games.
***That’s all for Corcoran.
Samori Toure is up.
***Toure said there were a lot of good things to take away from the second half vs. Michigan on offense. He said the biggest thing was showing how important it was to stay on schedule and get early first downs to build momentum.
***Toure said most of the team is over a loss by Monday as they turn their attention to the next game. He said you always think about what you could’ve done differently to win, but you can’t dwell on it and let it impact your preparation for the next game.
***Toure said NU's young wide receivers had "a lot of potential" and were fired up to suit up for the first time on Saturday. "At the end of the day, they're still freshmen... But I feel like in time they're going to be really talented and you guys are going to like what you see from them."
***Toure said Martinez was a leader who had "complete control of this team" and dealt with criticism better than any player he'd ever seen.
***That's all for Toure.
Adrian Martinez is up
***Martinez said "nicks and bruises" are part of the game, but the team knows that they have a bye next week and just need to push through.
***Martinez said he felt "really good about the way our team played" vs. Michigan and that the Huskers "fought our ass off." He said they have to take the positives from that game and carry them over to Minnesota.
***Martinez said in retrospect on the late fumble he needed to be more aware of the situation but didn't really think there was much else he could have done differently.
***Martinez said a key for the offense getting going was having faith in the offensive line to handle Michigan's talented defensive front.
***Martinez said he was confident NU would bounce back from the Michigan loss because "this team knows how to battle" and "still, despite our record, we know how good that we are."
"We haven't given up on each other."
***Martinez said Bryce Benhart was "well-equipped" to handle stepping in when he was called upon. Martinez said he went through a similar situation as Benhart last year when he got benched, and the hardest part from the "a competitive standpoint."
Martinez said Benhart was "a tough guy" who has a "passion" for football.
***Martinez said Minnesota's defense was "a group that flies around and is physical" that has given Nebraska problems over the years. "We have to respond to that."
***Martinez said his experiences over the last three years have shaped him into the player and person he is today, and Corcoran's compliment about his toughness was a great honor.
***That's all for Martinez.
Austin Allen is up
***Allen said Minnesota has "had our number the past couple of years." He said a lot of that was Minnesota was the more physical and disciplined team in those games.
***Allen said part of making it through an eight-game grind like this was trusting the coaching staff to allow you to give it your all every day and knowing the staff will "take care of you" by managing your daily workload.
***Allen said the Michigan game was "a great building block" for the offense, and he was excited going into halftime because "there was a lot on our play sheet that we hadn't called."
***Allen said knowing there are only five games left this season, "there's not a lot of time left to accomplish what want to do this season." But he remained confident they could still achieve their goals and that Minnesota was now the biggest game of the year.
***Allen said Benhart responded to his situation exactly like he expected. "He's not going to sit around and pout" and Benhart stepped in when his number was called on Saturday.
***Allen said he realized NU was in an illegal formation on his touchdown catch vs. Michigan. He was thankful it wasn't called. "I probably would've strangled somebody..."
***That's all for Allen.
Damion Daniels is up
***Daniels said his goal as a captain on defense was instilling a belief that "we the baddest on the field." He said the defense always harps on establishing the line of scrimmage, and he felt NU had done a good job of that this season.
***On Minnesota's offensive line, Daniels said "we've seen people like them" this year and they would be ready for the challenge this week.
***Daniels said the next step for him individually was "affecting the quarterback" more and improve as a pass rusher.
***That's all for Daniels.
Ben Stille is up
***Stille confirmed that the injury he suffered late against Michigan was "nothing major, I'll be ready to play."
***Stille said he couldn't care less about a bye coming up next week. "We could play 16 games in a row for all I care."
***Stille said Saturday was a physical game because of the nature of Michigan's offense. But he wasn't sure if it was one of the most physical game he'd played.
***Stille said what he remembered most from last year's loss to Minnesota was "them running the ball on us" and Nebraska not being able to get off the field on defense.
***Stille said "discipline" was probably the biggest difference between NU and Minnesota the past two years.
***That's all for Stille.
Scott Frost is up
***Frost said Teddy Prochazka suffered a knee injury and would have surgery next week and was out until the spring. He said they would work on eligibility issues with him playing in five games this season later.
***Frost said Benhart did well when called upon and handled his situation well.
***Frost said the offensive line had improved in the run game, and as a result, the offense as a whole had gotten better by the week.
***Frost said it was tough to see a guy like Prochazka suffer an injury like this given how quickly he was progressing, "but guys come back from injuries like this a lot."
***Frost said some of what NU was able to do on offense in the second half was set up by what they did in the first half with sticking to the running game.
***Frost said Ryan Held being up in the box has been a real benefit, particularly in the option run game.
***Frost said Johnson was probably fifth on the depth chart to start fall camp, and Frost would have been surprised if someone had told him Johnson would have the type of game he did vs. Michigan. Frost gave a lot of credit to Johnson for sticking it out and continuing to work hard.
***Frost said things started to click with Johnson during fall camp when he stopped trying to force things to happen and just let the game come to him.
***Frost said Benhart has "a big opportunity" this week going back home to Minnesota.
***Frost said the game at Minnesota two weeks ago, he felt NU played "really uninspired football" and had some guys "that didn't really want to be there."
***Frost said it would be important for Nebraska to maximize the snaps it got on offense because of the way Minnesota likes to control the clock on offense.
***Frost said NU went helmets only today in practice after "a really physical game on Saturday." He said the players responded with a "really clean" day and good attention to detail.
***Frost said Nouri Nouili had exceeded his expectations so far, but the key now was proving consistency and doing it every week and every day.
***Frost said the difference between this team and the one in 2018 was "we're a little more of a grown-up team" that has "guys who love football."
***Frost said athletic director Trev Alberts went around to each NU assistant coach Sunday and told them how proud he was of their work.
***Frost said he and Alberts get together every Sunday and talk about the day before. "He's been awesome. ... He was in the locker room Saturday night. I know he went around to some of the players and gave them encouragement."
***Frost said it was never an issue with talent with William Przystup, it was doing his job on every opportunity. Frost said Przystup had done a good job of that the last couple of weeks.
***That's all for Frost.
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