Corn Nation: for Nebraska Cornhuskers fans

Five Heart Podcast: Huskers Bring Top Players, How VB Uses Transfer Portal

Welcome to 2024, where the optimism is rampant and hope springs eternal. 
In this episode, Jon, Greg, and Minnie will talk about the CFP semifinals and make a bold (?) prediction for the national championship game. 
Minnie has compiled a list of incoming football players who are the top-ranked player in their position in their state. We will review that list and how Matt Rhule and his staff have elevated the recruitment game in their short time at Nebraska. 
And in volleyball, you certainly remember John Cook’s words after losing the national championship to Texas a few weeks ago about transfer portal usage. Well imagine my surprise when I saw a few days ago that the Huskers are bringing in the 2022 Big Ten POY Taylor Landfair. So how has Cook been utilizing transfer portal acquisitions? 
Looking forward to seeing the Chatterfields in the new year! 

Monday Night Therapy: It’s 2024! Welcome To A Whole New World!

It’s 2024!!!
An entire new beginning. Out with the old, in with the new!
What will 2024 be like?
That’s what I’ll be asking Todd while I watch Texas - Washington.

Five Heart 359: Husker Resolutions for the New Year

We did Christmas Wish List items last week, it only seems fitting to keep the holiday theme. 
Jon wasn’t able to join us as he had some family in town for one last day. But Minnie and Greg put on a hell of a show, talking about a couple transfer portal possibilities at the skill positions (RB and WR) that will be visiting Lincoln in the coming weeks.
Minnie did a ton of prep work on recapping the bowl games thus far. We didn’t get to any of that. But we did talk a little bit about the college football playoff. Nebraska, as a state, seems to be solidly behind Washington. There won’t be anyone crying if Texas loses, anyway. But Michigan/Alabama is a tough one to call, because we all hate Alabama and we fit in very nicely with the long-standing Big Ten tradition of crapping on our conference-mates. So let’s just all root for Washington, after all they aren’t a Big Ten team...yet.
And for good measure, a few New Years resolutions as they pertain to Nebraska athletics. Like not throwing chairs or criticizing the coaching staff, you know, the usual.

Nebraska Year in Review: Did Our Beloved Huskers Get Better All Over?

This is our year in review. We discussed nearly all of Nebraska’s athletic teams and when it was done, I came to the conclusion that none of this sucks.
What does that mean?
Well, one of our commenters asked what we thought of Trev Alberts’ performance so far, and I had to conclude - after a rather long ranty bit - that Alberts has done an amazing job.
You look at our programs across the board and you have to come to the conclusion that none of them are in positions of peril.
Going into 2024:
The baseball program is looking up.
Softball has Jordy Bahl coming in and that should be amazing.
Track and field has done some amazing things with more in the future.
MBB is currently 10-2 and maybe could make a postseason.
Volleyball just had one of the most amazing seasons ever and more is ahead.
Bowling, rifle are always good
Women’s soccer had an amazing season.
And then there’s football. The program is headed in the right direction. The future looks bright. Haters and doomsayers may not think so, but they’ll always think that way.
Overall, 2023 was a decent, but not great year. and 2024 looks better. That’s my assessment.
What do you think?

Five Heart Podcast 358: The Christmas Special: Nebraska’s Early Signing Day Class And Dylan Raiola Of Course!

Christmas is coming, and we are looking forward to it!
Nebraska fans received an early Christmas present when Dylan Raiola committed to Nebraska’s 2024 recruiting class AND Danny Kaelin decided to stay.
We have a Christmas special for you!

Volleyball National Title Recap, And Dylan Raiola Commits To Nebraska!

Monday Night Therapy -
We started by reviewing Nebraska’s loss to Texas in the volleyball national title match.
It was disappointing to see Nebraska get crushed by Texas, but that’s exactly what happened. You can gloss it up all you want, but it was an ass-kicking.
The discussion turned to Dylan Raiola, as it should. We all know Nebraska football, despite being not very good for years, has the ego of the state in its hands.
Young Mr. Raiola announced his commitment with a poem. I responded with a song of my own, part of which I read (I have lyrics, not music) during the show. Perhaps I will put the rest into it’s own movie and someone can add music to it later.
What does Dylan Raiola’s commitment mean for Nebraska? It means that Early Signing Day, the 20th, Wednesday, is going to be a lot more exciting than it was before.

2023 NCAA VOLLEYBALL NATIONAL TITLE GAME PREVIEW - Nebraska vs Texas!

Beth and I got together to discuss the latest volleyball happenings, particularly:
Nebraska swept Pitt in the Final Four/Semifinal match. Was this a shock? Beth and I discuss how that match went down, why Nebraska was completely in charge, and why Pitt’s killer serve never really materialized.
Texas bludgeoned Wisconsin. Good lord. I don’t recall the Badgers ever playing that poorly, and it was a point of discussion with Beth; was Wisconsin that bad or Texas that good?
What do we need to watch for in this match against Texas? THIS NATIONAL TITLE MATCH AGAINST EVIL - because that’s really what it is.
The national title match will be broadcast on ABC, a BROADCAST network as opposed to a cable channel. Will the viewership explode? (It should. Volleyball is a fast, exciting sport and you’d watch it before you’d watch the WNBA, right?
Corn Nation’s plans for doing more with volleyball on YouTube!

Five Heart Podcast: Kyle McCord Isn’t Coming And The Quarterback Room at Nebraska Has Blown Apart

We introduced a new member of the Five Heart Podcast staff tonight, and we spent some time getting to know her - Minnie Hunt!
The news explosion - Kyle McCord is NOT coming to Nebraska, and Danny Kaelin has opened up his commitment and is visiting Michigan State. This has lead everyone to catastrophize the worst possible outcomes because that’s what we do as humans.
Reality is - we should all let this play out.
The portal doesn’t close until January 2nd, and players have until then to make their decisions - if they’re transferring. Early signing day is December 20th, so there is still a week left to make decisions if you’re a new recruit.
Given that, of course everyone is freaked out about the news. I’m pretty sure Nebraska will end up with some quarterback, it’s just that we know one of them won’t be Kyle McCord.
We had some fun with Minnie on her first show.

2023 NCAA VOLLEYBALL FINAL FOUR PREVIEW - Nebraska vs Pitt, Wisconsin vs Texas!

The NCAA Volleyball national champion is soon to be crowned. The Final Four is nearly upon us!
Nebraska takes on Pitt. Wisconsin takes on Texas.
Four really incredible teams - who will come out on top?
First of all, we agreed at the beginning of the show that CN (me, basically) need to come up with a suitable volleyball intro because we do plan on doing more volleyball-specific shows. The sport deserves it, and you do too!
Our main volleyball writer Beth joins me as we discuss all four teams in the Final Four.
What are their strengths? What are their weaknesses?
What does Nebraska have to worry about against Pitt? What about Pitt - what do they have to worry about from Nebraska?
Then there’s the OTHER SIDE OF THE BRACKET - THE EVIL SIDE.
Who’s still at Texas? Who’s good at Texas? Will Texas stand a chance against the giants of Wisconsin? How will these teams try to attack each other.
Beth has all those answers. I’m just a pretty face. (egad.)

Nebraska Football Making Moves And The Volleyball Final Four Awaits

Nebraska football appears to be making some big moves in the portal. Kyle McCord visiting Nebraska today word now is Dylan Raiola is back in the mix to flip to Nebraska’s 2024 recruiting class... Jeff Sims is out.
Egad. There’s a boatload going on!
Nebraska volleyball is preparing for the Final Four between our beloved Huskers, Pitt, Wisconsin and Texas.