Memorial Stadium isn’t new to Mike Riley. The first-year Nebraska coach has been in the building as an assistant at Southern Cal and with the New Orleans Saints.
But today’s game is his first time at the stadium while in charge of the Cornhuskers.
He knows Red Grange once played here. And so did Dick Butkus.
“This is a great college town,” Riley said after the team arrived at its Champaign hotel early Friday evening. “I’ve known people that have coached here in the past. It’s personally fun for me to be involved in this game with the University of Nebraska.