What is the sound of 6,000 cardboard cutouts waving in the breeze?
This and other philosophical questions were raised Saturday as the Nebraska football team played its latest home opener since 1895 in a mostly empty Memorial Stadium.
Yes, the scene was a strange one in a strange year, from the uncrowded walk on Stadium Drive to media members being asked to fill out and pass a COVID-19 screening before being allowed to head to the press box on the sixth floor of Memorial Stadium.
Nebraska’s cutouts filled up much of the lower bowl in East Stadium, with Sections 5, 6 and 7 left empty for opposing fans. There were about 40 family members of Nittany Lions players spread across three sections. There were also about 40 rows’ worth of cutouts in the north end zone behind the goal posts.
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That included the latest addition, Nebraska basketball five-star commitment Bryce McGowens, along with fellow recruits Keisei Tominaga and Wilhelm Breidenbach.
UNL Chancellor Ronnie Green was in two places at once, with a cutout in the north end zone and another in the tunnel the Huskers walk through to get to the field.
"It’s going to be a completely different feeling; it’s going to be strange to all of us,†Nebraska coach Scott Frost said on his pregame radio show.
Nebraska senior deputy athletic director Garrett Klassy said that of the 300 full-sized tunnel cutouts available for sale, about 250 had been purchased. Overall revenue from the sale of all the cutouts in the stadium, Klassy said, was about $400,000.
There did not appear to be any cutouts of older fans asking younger fans in front of them to sit down.
The cardboard, along with the several dozen Nebraska parents and family members in West Stadium, were treated to a prerecorded pregame show from the NU band that aired on the stadium’s video screens while the field itself sat empty.
Why were the Nebraska fans on the west side of the stadium? Because that’s where Nebraska set up its sideline.
It was believed to be the first time the Huskers were on the west sideline for nearly 60 years. Bob Devaney moved NU to the east sideline when he became head coach in 1962.
While no official reason for the switch was given before the game, it appeared NU might have made the move in order to better conceal the signals it sent onto the field. A pair of staffers held up large white squares of cardboard between the press box and whoever was sending in signals to the offense or defense on each play.
There was a Tunnel Walk, complete with smoke. There were red balloons released by NU staffers after Luke McCaffrey’s touchdown on Nebraska’s opening drive.
There was also a voice overheard in the press box.
“Just taking in the weirdness,†it said.
Photos: Huskers outlast Penn State in home opener at Memorial Stadium
Nebraska's Wan'Dale Robinson runs with the ball against Penn State on Nov. 15, 2020, at Memorial Stadium.
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Nebraska lineman Bryce Benhart heads off the field following warmups before the Penn State game Nov. 15 at Memorial Stadium.
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Nebraska's Dicaprio Bootle (7) breaks up a pass intended for Penn State's Jahan Dotson (5) in the first half Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
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Nebraska's Damian Jackson in action against Penn State on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
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Nebraska's Matt Farniok (71) in action against Penn State on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
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Penn State quarterback Will Levis (7) gets tackled by Nebraska's Cam Taylor-Britt (5) and Garrett Nelson (44) in November at Memorial Stadium.
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Penn State quarterback Will Levis (7) gets tackled by Nebraska's JoJo Domann (13) and Will Honas (3) on Nov. 15 at Memorial Stadium.
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Nebraska safeties Myles Farmer (18) and Deontai Williams in action Nov. 15 against Penn State at Memorial Stadium.
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Nebraska's Levi Falck (88) gets tackled after a first-half reception by Penn State's Brandon Smith (12) and Lamont Wade (38) on Nov. 15 at Memorial Stadium.
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Nebraska quarterback Luke McCaffrey (7) looks to avoid the tackle from Penn State's Jesse Luketa (left) in the first half Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
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Nebraska's Isaac Gifford (23) in action during a first-half Husker punt against Penn State on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
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Nebraska safety Deontai Williams (8) strips the ball from Penn State quarterback Sean Clifford in the second quarter Nov. 14, 2020, at Memorial Stadium. Williams recovered the fumble and scored.
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Nebraska's Ben Stille (95) lines up against Penn State on Nov. 15 at Memorial Stadium.
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Nebraska's Cam Taylor-Britt (5) runs back a punt as he avoids the tackle of Penn State's Daequan Hardy in the first half Nov. 14, 2020, at Memorial Stadium.
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Nebraska's Luke Reimer (28) eyes a tackle against Penn State quarterback Will Levis last season at Memorial Stadium.
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Nebraska quarterback Luke McCaffrey (7) gets the snap from center Cameron Jurgens (51) as running back Ronald Thompkins (25) and Ethan Piper look to block against Penn State on Nov. 14, 2020, at Memorial Stadium.
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Nebraska head coach Scott Frost instructs the team during a timeout on Nov. 14, 2020, against Penn State at Memorial Stadium.Â
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Nebraska head coach Scott Frost has a word with the head linesman during the Penn State game Saturday at Memorial Stadium.Â
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Nebraska head coach Scott Frost during a second-half timeout against Penn State at Memorial Stadium on Nov. 15, 2020.
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Nebraska head coach Scott Frost watches a replay on a video screen Nov. 15 at Memorial Stadium.
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Nebraska's Ty Robinson (99) tackles Penn State's Keyvone Lee (24) in the third quarter Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
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Nebraska's Caleb Tannor (left) tackles Penn State quarterback Will Levis (7) on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
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Nebraska's Collin Miller (31) celebrates a third-quarter stop against Penn State's Will Levis (7) on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
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Nebraska quarterbacks Logan Smothers (8) and Matt Masker (18) watch the action from the sideline during the Penn State game Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
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Nebraska head coach Scott Frost (top) helps up Husker linebacker Garrett Nelson (44) after Nelson sustained a third-quarter injury against Penn State on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.Â
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Nebraska quarterback Logan Smothers (8) cheers on his team from the sideline during the Penn State game in November at Memorial Stadium.
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Nebraska quarterback Luke McCaffrey (front) runs with the ball as Penn State's Jayson Oweh (28) goes for the tackle in the third quarter Saturday at Memorial Stadium.Â
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Nebraska left tackle Brenden Jaimes (76) goes against Penn State's Shaka Toney on Nov. 15 at Memorial Stadium.
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Nebraska quarterback Luke McCaffrey audibles at the line in the fourth quarter against Penn State on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
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Nebraska wide receiver Wan’Dale Robinson (right) draws a facemask penalty from Penn State's Shaka Toney (18) on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
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Nebraska quarterback Luke McCaffrey (7) runs away from Penn State's Jaquan Brisker (1) in the fourth quarter Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
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Nebraska kicker Connor Culp sends a ball through the uprights for a fourth-quarter field goal against Penn State on Nov. 14, 2020, at Memorial Stadium.
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Nebraska quarterback Luke McCaffrey (7) takes the snap as linemen Ethan Piper (57) and Brenden Jaimes (76) block on a fourth-quarter play against Penn State on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
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Nebraska's Dicaprio Bootle (7) defends against the pass to Penn State's Jahan Dotson in the fourth quarter Saturday at Memorial Stadium
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Nebraska's Will Honas (3) tackles Penn State's Pat Freiermuth (87) in the fourth quarter on Nov. 14, 2020, at Memorial Stadium.
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Nebraska quarterback Adrian Martinez (2) walks off the field with teammate Nick Henrich (42) after the Huskers defeated Penn State 30-23 on Nov. 15 at Memorial Stadium.
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Nebraska's Ben Stille (95) and Ty Robinson walk off the field after the Huskers' 30-23 win over Penn State on Nov. 14, 2020, at Memorial Stadium.Â
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Nebraska's Ethan Piper (57) blocks for Husker quarterback Luke McCaffrey (7) in the fourth quarter against Penn State on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
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Nebraska quarterback Luke McCaffrey looks for an open receiver as Penn State defenders descend on him Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
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Nebraska linebacker Damian Jackson lines up on the 30-yard line for kickoff against Penn State on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
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Nebraska assistant coach Mike Dawson walks back to the sideline flanked by Nick Henrich (left) and Will Honas in November at Memorial Stadium.
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Penn State players leave the Memorial Stadium field after losing to Nebraska on Saturday
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Nebraska inside linebacker Will Honas celebrates with wide receiver Kade Warner after defeating Penn State on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
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Nebraska defensive lineman Ben Stille sacks Penn State quarterback Will Levis late in the fourth quarter Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
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Nebraska quarterback Luke McCaffery tumbles into Penn State linebacker Ellis Brooks on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
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Penn State running back Devyn Ford is tackled by Nebraska safety Myles Farmer on Saturday at Memorial Stadium. Nebraska won 30-23.
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Nebraska outside linebacker Pheldarius Payne speaks to Penn State safety Ji'Ayir Brown after the game at Memorial Stadium on Nov. 14.
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A crane used for construction of the Lied Place on Q Street flies American and Husker flags before the Nebraska football game against Penn State on Saturday.
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Penn State running back Devyn Ford dives for the goal line as Nebraska linebackers Will Honas and Garrett Nelson (44) hold on in the third quarter Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
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Nebraska outside linebacker JoJo Domann hits Penn State quarterback Will Levis last season at Memorial Stadium.
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Nebraska running back Marvin Scott tries to escape the grasp of Penn State's Jesse Luketa in the fourth quarter Nov. 14 at Memorial Stadium.
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Nebraska inside linebacker Luke Reimer celebrates a fourth-quarter stop against Penn State on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
Nebraska quarterback Adrian Martinez walks the sideline during the second half against Penn State on Nov. 14 at Memorial Stadium.
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Nebraska's Luke Reimer (28) tackles Penn State quarterback Will Levis (7) late in the fourth quarter as the Huskers defense attempts to hold on against Penn State on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
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Nebraska head coach Scott Frost watches the action as Penn State makes it within 10 yards of the end zone in the final minutes of the fourth quarter Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
Nebraska's Collin Miller (31) celebrates after Ben Stille (right) tackled Penn State quarterback Will Levis (left) to give the Huskers the ball on downs in the fourth quarter Nov. 14, 2020, at Memorial Stadium.
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Nebraska safety Deontai Williams (8) strips the ball from Penn State quarterback Sean Clifford before recovering the fumble and returning it for a touchdown in the second quarter Nov. 14, 2020, at Memorial Stadium.
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Nebraska's Zavier Betts (15) scores the first touchdown of his career against Penn State on Nov. 14, 2020, at Memorial Stadium.
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Nebraska tight end Austin Allen extends for a pass on an incompletion while defended by Penn State's Marquis Wilson on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
For the first time in his Nebraska career, Adrian Martinez was healthy but not playing. Instead, the Huskers went with Luke McCaffrey during this Nov. 14, 2020, game against Penn State at Memorial Stadium. Even still, Martinez, a captain, encourages his team.
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Nebraska's Cam Taylor-Britt (5) intercepts a ball intended for Penn State's Jahan Dotson in the first half of a Nov. 14, 2020, game at Memorial Stadium.
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Penn State quarterback Sean Clifford throws under pressure from Nebraska outside linebacker Pheldarius Payne last November at Memorial Stadium.
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star
Penn State running back Caziah Holmes is pushed out of bounds by Nebraska safety Deontai Williams at Memorial Stadium on Saturday.
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Nebraska wide receiver Levi Falck catches a pass against Penn State on Nov. 14, 2020, at Memorial Stadium.
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Penn State quarterback Sean Clifford is tackled by inside linebacker Will Honas on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
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Ed Sabata (from left), Bruce Melichar and Jeff Melichar tailgate outside Melichar 66 Sales and Service downtown before the Nov. 14, 2020, Nebraska-Penn State game.
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The Nebraska defense converges on Penn State quarterback Sean Clifford (14) in the first half Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
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Nebraska Cam Taylor-Britt (5) welcomes his teammates after a touchdown against Penn State on Nov. 14, 2020, at Memorial Stadium.
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Penn State running back Caziah Holmes breaks away from Nebraska defenders in the second quarter Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
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Nebraska wide receiver Zavier Betts (left) runs away from Penn State's Jayson Oweh en route to a 45-yard touchdown in the second quarter last November at Memorial Stadium.
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Nebraska coach Scott Frost instructs the team during a timeout in the first half against Penn State last week at Memorial Stadium.
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Nebraska safety Myles Farmer draws a pass interference penalty while defending Penn State wide receiver Parker Washington in the third quarter Nov. 14 at Memorial Stadium.
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Nebraska safety Myles Farmer defends a pass to Penn State's Parker Washington in a Nov. 14, 2020, game at Memorial Stadium.
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Penn State linebacker Brandon Smith holds up the ball he intercepted from Nebraska quarterback Luke McCaffery in the fourth quarter Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
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A Nebraska state trooper watches game action from the stands Saturday as Nebraska takes on Penn State at Memorial Stadium.
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Nebraska's Collin Miller (31) said Tuesday he will retire from football for health reasons.
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Nebraska wide receiver Wan'Dale Robinson celebrates a touchdown by teammate Zavier Betts Nov. 14 at Memorial Stadium.
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Nebraska safety Myles Farmer (18) gets flagged for pass interference against Penn State's Parker Washington (3) in the third quarter on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
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Nebraska's Matt Farniok (71) blocks for quarterback Luke McCaffrey (7) on a second-half run against Penn State on Nov. 14 at Memorial Stadium.
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Penn State's Keyvone Lee scores on a third-quarter run against Nebraska on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
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Nebraska fan cutouts are a backdrop for the consecutive sellout sign on Saturday at Memorial Stadium during a Nov. 14, 2020, game against Penn State.
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Nebraska coach Scott Frost walks down the sideline after Penn State scored in the third quarter Nov. 14, 2020, at Memorial Stadium.
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Nebraska's defensive line tries to block a field-goal attempt by Penn State kicker Jake Pinegar on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
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Nebraska coach Scott Frost on the field during a second-half timeout against Penn State on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
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Nebraska quarterback Luke McCaffrey (7) bobbles a third-quarter snap resulting in lost yardage against Penn State on Nov. 14, 2020, at Memorial Stadium.
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Penn State running back Keyvone Lee is swarmed by Nebraska defenders in the third quarter Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
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Penn State quarterback Will Levis (7) gets pressured by Nebraska's Ben Stille on a fourth-down play, throwing an incomplete pass to turn it over to the Huskers in the final moments of the game Nov. 14, 2020, at Memorial Stadium.
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Luke McCaffrey (7) and Wan’Dale Robinson (1) celebrate after the Huskers' win over Penn State on Nov. 14, 2020, at Memorial Stadium. McCaffrey and Robinson each entered the transfer portal following the 2020 season.
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Nebraska quarterback Luke McCaffrey (7) and wide receiver Wan’Dale Robinson (1) celebrate after the Huskers' win over Penn State on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
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Nebraska head coach Scott Frost leads the Huskers out onto a nearly empty stadium before taking on Penn State on Nov. 14, 2020, at Memorial Stadium.
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Nebraska safety Deontai Williams (8) strips the ball from Penn State quarterback Sean Clifford and recovers the fumble before running it in for a touchdown in the second quarter Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
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Nebraska tight end Austin Allen (11) pulls in a first-quarter pass against Penn State's Jesse Luketa (40) and Keaton Ellis (2) last November at Memorial Stadium.
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Nebraska safety Deontai Williams (8) strips the ball from Penn State quarterback Sean Clifford, recovers the fumble and scores in the second quarter Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
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Nebraska safety Deontai Williams (8) punches the ball from Penn State quarterback Sean Clifford last season. Williams has incorporated boxing into his preseason workouts to help increase his stamina in 2021.
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Nebraska quarterbacks Luke McCaffrey (right) and Adrian Martinez talk during pregame warmups before hosting Penn State on Nov. 14 at Memorial Stadium.
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Husker fan cutouts fill the North Stadium stands before the team takes on Penn State on Nov. 14, 2020, at Memorial Stadium.
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Contact the writer at cbasnett@journalstar.com or 402-473-7436. On Twitter @HuskerExtraCB.
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