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Riley recalls his Alabama days with fondness

There's no need to run over and make that jukebox play "Sweet Home Alabama" or anything. Mike Riley is very much focused on chasing championships in another football-crazed state all these years after he wrote those letters as a kid to The Bear.

There was a time, however, when Nebraska's head football coach prized Alabama football most of all. You likely know by now that Riley spent his college years in Tuscaloosa. It's a line sprinkled into stories here and there. A defensive back for the Crimson Tide from 1971-74. Full head of hair. Wore No. 23 on his helmet.