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Nebraska edge rusher Garrett Nelson walks off the field after the Huskers' win against North Dakota on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
Nate Rohr has his dream job.
From his perch high above Memorial Stadium, he serves as narrator of Nebraska football games, giving Husker fans information and setting up the next play.
Suddenly, not long ago, he became Nate Roar.
It happened toward the end of last season. When Nebraska reached a third down, Rohr’s voice would jump up and hold the consonant into the next county.
“It’s THIRDDDDDDDDDDDDDDOWN AND FIVE!”
Nebraska's newcomers have been a hit so far but they're still in the process of finding their footing on the field
Sometimes, there might be a few more D’s.
Just like that, Rohr became a topic of Memorial Stadium discussion, much like Scott Frost or the run game.
Did you hear the PA guy? Some loved it. Others couldn’t stand it. Said it was too over the top for Nebraska football.
“It’s the most feedback I’ve gotten on anything,” Rohr said. “Some people tell me they really like it. And I’ve gotten some criticism, to my face and also on the message boards.
“It’s certainly the most divisive thing I’ve done.”
Rohr didn’t fall in love with the public address role to be divisive.
As a kid in Beatrice, Neb., he always wanted to broadcast games. The PA thing happened by accident, when Rohr was a sophomore at Beatrice and the basketball PA job was open. Rohr’s knack for broadcasting everything around him was good enough for an athletic director in need.
Soon he was doing PA for basketball, volleyball and football. Then, as a student at NU, his voice could be heard at Husker softball, soccer, swimming, gymnastics and basketball.
And finally, in 2016, football. A dream come true for the lifelong Husker fan.
Rohr grew into the gig, showing the right balance of passion and accuracy. And then last fall his bosses threw him a curve ball.
After hearing Oklahoma's PA man get animated and loud on Sooner third downs last September in Norman, NU athletic officials returned with a strong suggestion for Rohr: jazz up those third down calls.
And make sure that jazz is loud.
“After the Oklahoma game down there last year, the folks in our athletic department really wanted to push third downs,” Rohr said.
“I didn’t attend the game, but from what I could tell on TV, it seemed they were really loud, and the (Oklahoma) PA guy would hit third downs.
“I was encouraged to push third downs, to try and encourage folks. It was a little out of my style.”
It seems a little out of character for Nebraska football, too. The game is the thing.
But then again, it’s 2022.
College football is now about the Game Day Experience. The Fan Experience.
Husker Vision changed the game in 1994, and NU fans have heard loud recorded music bounce off the stadium walls and watched videos and commercials during time outs.
And embraced a tradition, the Tunnel Walk, that they wanted to keep out of all the technology.
The video board has played cheerleader for a long time, and apparently last week NU showed Ochaun Mathis calling for fans to get loud.
It’s a balancing act that Rohr embraces. He’s takes the PA role very seriously, but also his Huskers, too.
“I’ve always displayed passion,” Rohr said. “I want it pretty clear that I work for the University of Nebraska and I always want Nebraska to win.
"At the same time I want to be accurate. I want to get the details right and show some passion.
“I think they (NU staff) thought Oklahoma got a little help from that. And I understand, I have no bearing on whether Nebraska wins or loses a football game. But especially last year, when there were so many close games, if there’s a small, tiny bit I can help...”
Memorial Stadium will continue to hear the Rohr of the crowd.
Some of us make a lot out of the play-calling saga. And I know a lot of fans don’t care who calls the plays. They just want the plays to work.
I’m fascinated by it because I have never seen it — that is, whatever it is that is happening. Who’s calling the plays? Well, we’re not exactly sure.
Call it Scott Frost’s Co-Op.
I was looking forward to seeing how cagy vet Mark Whipple would do against the Big Ten defenses, and if a big-time running back emerged for NU, how Whipple would attack each game.
Now, we won't know exactly for sure.
Now the offensive coordinators in the stands will keep an eye out for the Co-Op on the sideline.
Is it Whipple? Or the Co-Op? If it’s winning, that’s all that matters.
You know Nick Saban will want to welcome Texas to the SEC, and he’s wearing the boots to do it.
You know the Horns want to show they can handle the SEC.
First, they need to handle Kansas.
Love having these two uniforms back together in a Big Eight throwback.
Iowa State at Iowa. How much pressure are the Cyclones feeling?
If they can’t beat this Iowa offense, then when?
The problem is Iowa’s defense. And the Hawkeyes get running back Gavin Williams back. And Iowa always finds a way to win this one.
Would love to hear the pregame conversation between Frost and Clay Helton.
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A Nebraska defense in transition believes it will be a bit more settled this weekend and beyond. “I think they’ll continue to get better and better each and every week,” Erik Chinander said.
Few, if any, took Nebraska’s loss to Northwestern harder than Garrett Nelson. Here’s how the captain was able to bounce back.
Big Red fans will be watching Adrian Martinez in his new purple threads at Kansas State, while monitoring his progress, comparing stats and records along the way. It's all part of the journey for QB1.
Big Red fans will be watching Adrian Martinez in his new purple threads at Kansas State, while monitoring his progress, comparing stats and records along the way. It's all part of the journey for QB1.
The Scott Frost Era has been one disappointment after another, one shock after the next. There's no reason to rank this one. This one felt like the end, and now it's just a question of when, not if.
Though it is not Trev Alberts’ preference to fire Scott Frost at all — and certainly not before Oct. 1 when the buyout drops — there’s always the possibility that Saturday was it.
A look at some talking points after the Huskers' game against Georgia Southern on Saturday.
Nate Rohr has his dream job. He serves as narrator of Nebraska football games, giving fans information and setting up plays. And not long ago, he became Nate Roar.
Ready for some football after dark? Stay up-to-the-minute with us from Memorial Stadium, where the Huskers are set to host the Eagles.
Three things we learned and three things we still don't know about the Huskers coming out of Saturday's loss to Georgia Southern.
Nebraska edge rusher Garrett Nelson walks off the field after the Huskers' win against North Dakota on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
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