Terry Bradden already has a picture of Elijah Jeudy from Saturday's graduation printed and hanging in the coach's office.
"That's what it's about. Because a lot of times guys forget that's what it's about," Nebraska's first-year D-line coach said Monday. "Yes we want to win. Production-based business. I understand that. But getting a degree and showing other people where he's from. Man, that's just a special moment and I'm so proud of him."
Jeudy's little boy, Kodah, and Bradden's son, Carter, are also about the same age and play together.
And seeing Jeudy earn his degree on Saturday meant a lot to his position coach.
"That's what I love about college," Bradden said. "Me, my brother was murdered at 17 years old before I was born, 30 feet from my house. So I always told my mom I want to get my degree. That paper, nobody can take from you. Football is going to last a couple years. But that degree is so special ... Get that degree and then you can chase football as much as you can."
Bradden talks a lot about his guys finishing off the field. Jeudy provided an example of finishing an important quest outside the lines too.
Here's more of what Bradden had to say as kickoff nears
Don't get bored with the fundamentals, Bradden said of a sentiment he shared in the spring, as he answered a question about how he thinks the depth is stacking up 10 days from kickoff. "I think it's going to be a great time with shock and effort," he said.
Williams Nwaneri does a good job of canceling out the distractions that can come with being a former five-star recruit. The coach has liked his buy-in.