The friendly folks at Risky's Sports Bar & Grill in Beatrice wore grim faces.
For the past few years, I've regularly seen those looks of concern on several Thursdays as I spoke to the group of 50 or so during the noon hour about the state of Nebraska football and the team's upcoming game.
I did the same thing Wednesday in Kearney, and saw the same concern.
But let's go back to Thursday. Just before news about Shawn Eichorst's firing popped up on smart phones, I was telling the group that the Rutgers game Saturday is no gimme, to buckle up and keep an open mind, and never mind that the Scarlet Knights haven't beaten a Power Five opponent since October 2015.
Say no more.
Actually, in the wake of Eichorst's ouster, the conversation about Nebraska football heated up several more degrees and took on a different tone.
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The message from UNL Chancellor Ronnie Green and NU President Hank Bounds was clear: The importance of winning has just been ratcheted up a notch.
They lauded Eichorst's work in the areas of student-athletes' academic performance, life skills and community service. But as Green and Bounds addressed reporters, we heard another message loud and clear.
More wins, please.
On-field results matter.
Bounds emphasized that being intensely competitive on the playing field can accompany Nebraska's emphasis on academics and life skills. Let's be clear, the latter emphasis (academics and life skills) was present long before Eichorst came on the scene in October of 2012. In other words, Eichorst liked to take credit for areas that already were strengths.
Have I mentioned that Nebraska's football team is 1-2 this season, and 3-6 in its past nine games dating to 2016?
Eichorst went out on a limb in late 2014 when he hired Mike Riley to succeed Bo Pelini, and that limb is presently dangling awkwardly. In fact, it looks like it could snap off at any moment, hence those concerned faces in Kearney and Beatrice this week.
Poll: Do you agree with the decision to fire Shawn Eichorst?
Yes, Rutgers (1-2) poses a legitimate threat to Nebraska. If you don't believe me, turn on video of NU's 21-17 loss to Northern Illinois last week. Watch how the Huskies manhandled the Huskers' veteran offensive line. Watch how Riley's crew, coaches and players alike, went into a shell after NIU went up 14-0.
I asked Bounds if he would be looking for a replacement for Eichorst this week if Nebraska had beaten Northern Illinois.
"We've been looking at this for a long time," Bounds said. "Clearly, it didn't help to have the outcome we had (against NIU)."
He then reiterated the need for "competitiveness" in Nebraska athletics in general and football in particular.
Bottom line, Bounds and Green are like many of the rest of us and understand Nebraska football is in an exceptionally precarious period. The Huskers are about to go an 18th straight year without a conference championship. They really have no prayer of winning the league this year, even in Riley's third season in charge.
Riley is 16-13 overall. That's after Eichorst fired a coach in Pelini who never was worse than 9-4, won three division titles and was 67-27 overall (.713).
I had been telling folks for the past few days that I had never been this concerned about the state of the program.
"As a former athlete, and someone who cares about it and knows the importance of athletics to a university, it's important that we compete (in football)," Bounds said. "You look at universities across the country, when you're competing for championships, enrollment's growing.
"I'm not saying that's the reason you do it, but you have to recognize all the moving parts around the biggest, most-visible program at the University of Nebraska."
"These are obviously very difficult decisions," Bounds added. "It's been a very difficult week. Shawn is a good guy. …"
Eichorst oozes positive energy even if it feels contrived at times, as if he's compensating for his shortcomings as a leader. You heard one of his shortcomings after the Northern Illinois game, when he appeared in the media area (for the first time after a game) because he said it showed strong leadership.
Good leaders don't have to tell you when they're being good leaders.
Thing is, I think Eichorst genuinely cared about providing the best "total experience" possible for his student-athletes.
"Part of that is not only the academic and life and community service (aspects), it is winning as well," he said last Saturday. "And so having a championship experience matters."
It clearly matters to Green and Bounds. But it seems Eichorst picked up on the theme too late to save his job. Consider: Since 2011, Nebraska men's programs have captured only five conference titles — including four in track and field.
Meanwhile, a large part of me feels badly for Riley. The situation looks bleak for the 64-year-old head coach. And don't look now, but another one of his offensive linemen just went down with an injury.
Football is at once a cruel and beautiful sport, as Nebraska fans are acutely aware.
By the way, I noticed something at Risky's on Thursday right before I had to hurry back for Green and Bounds' news conference. After word about Eichorst filtered through the 50 fans on hand, there was actually a jolt of energy. Sure, the big news woke up everybody. But maybe it was more than that.
Maybe those good folks felt a surge of hope for the future of their football program.
I know I did.