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Sam McKewon, with the Omaha World-Herald, breaks down the Nebraska spring football game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
LINCOLN — In an email to season ticket holders Tuesday, Nebraska’s athletic department program announced the Husker football team will move from the east sideline to the west sideline for home games.
“After soliciting feedback from our coaches and staff, it was determined that the west sideline has a competitive advantage for our team,” the email states. “We want to do everything possible to support our coaches and team and put us in a position to succeed.”
The switch, NU said in the email, will not affect fans sitting along the west sideline during the 2024 football season.
While former Nebraska A.D. Trev Alberts said in October 2023 he expected the team to eventually move from east to west, neither he, new A.D. Troy Dannen nor coach Matt Rhule announced that move as official.
“Coach Rhule wants to be on the west side,” Alberts said on his monthly radio show then. “We’re ultimately going to move the team to west side.”
Alberts’ comments followed NU’s 45-7 loss to Michigan. On that day, 96-degree temperatures baked the Huskers on the east sideline while the Wolverines, on the west, were eventually enveloped in a shadow of West Stadium. Alberts said he got a call from former NFL teammate Jim Harbaugh – UM’s coach at the time – who told him he believed Michigan’s sideline was 30-40 degrees cooler than Nebraska.
During the 2023 season, various reports of Michigan stealing opposing teams’ signs led to the resignation of one staff member, Connor Stalions, an ongoing NCAA investigation and a three-game suspension of Harbaugh. The World-Herald reported that Stalions had purchased tickets to Husker home games in 2021 and 2022.
The Wolverines won the national title in 2024.
In theory, opposing coaches could see, from the West Stadium press box, NU signals better across the field than they could looking down to the east sideline. That’s why, in 2020, former coach Scott Frost moved his team to the west sideline during the COVID season, when only parents and close family could watch games in Memorial Stadium.
“It’s real easy with us signaling in, to be able to see the east sideline from the coaches’ box,” Frost said at the time. “I wanted to make sure we could do everything we could to protect our signals, particularly when there’s less chaos in the stadium.”
Prior to that, Nebraska had used the east sideline since the Bob Devaney era began in 1962.
Still, Frost and NU moved back in 2021 to the east side, where there’s more room. Plus, at the time, the Tunnel Walk entrance came from the northwest tunnel.
Starting last season, NU’s Tunnel Walk entrance switched to the northeast tunnel. It made for an awkward half-circle loop to the east sideline vs. the traditional gallop across the field.
Now, the gallop will return, Husker signals will be harder to see and shadows will creep across the bench much earlier in some games.
Nebraska’s Maurice Mazzccua (33) runs the ball during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
Nebraska’s Keelan Smith (86) makes a catch in front of Nebraska’s D’Andre Barnes (35) during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
A look inside Memorial Stadium during the spring game in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule motions during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
Nebraska’s Dylan Raiola (15) throws the ball during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
Nebraska’s Blye Hill (23) is evaluated for an injury during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
The Nebraska offensive and defensive lines line up during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
Ollie Clark, 7, throws a football prior to the Nebraska football spring game in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
Nebraska players take the field for the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
Fans hold up their shoes for the kickoff of the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
Nebraska’s Dante Dowdell (23) makes a catch during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
Nebraska’s Dylan Raiola (15) runs the ball during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
Nebraska’s Dylan Raiola (15) hands the ball off to Nebraska’s Emmett Johnson (21) during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
Nebraska’s Emmett Johnson (21) runs the ball during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
Nebraska’s Emmett Johnson (21) runs the ball past D’Andre Barnes (35) and Micah Mazzccua (56) during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
Nebraska’s Daniel Kaelin (12) throws the ball during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
Nebraska’s Heinrich Haarberg (10) fakes the handoff during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
Nebraska’s Dylan Raiola (15) during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
Nebraska’s Dylan Raiola (15) looks to throw during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
Nebraska athletic director Troy Dannen during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
Nebraska athletic director Troy Dannen during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
Nebraska fans watch on during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
Nebraska’s Kwinten Ives (28) runs the ball during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
Nebraska’s Jacory Barney Jr. (89) runs the ball during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
Nebraska’s Jacory Barney Jr. (89) runs the ball during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
Nebraska’s Jacory Barney Jr. (89) is tackled by Nebraska’s Tristan Alvano (30) during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
Nebraska’s Demitrius Bell (11) is carted off the field after an apparent injury during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
Nebraska’s Isaiah Neyor (18) runs the ball during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
Nebraska’s Heinrich Haarberg (10) runs the ball during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
Nebraska’s Blye Hill (23) is evaluated for an injury during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
Nebraska’s Maurice Mazzccua (33) runs the ball against Ethan Nation (28) during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
Nebraska defensive coordinator Tony White during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
Nebraska’s Stefon Thompson (56) blocks Nebraska’s Willis McGahee IV (17) during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
Nebraska’s Dylan Raiola (15) throws the ball during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
A look Memorial Stadium during the spring game in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
A look inside Memorial Stadium during the spring game in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
Nebraska’s Daniel Kaelin (12) takes the snap during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule stands on the field during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
Nebraska’s Daniel Kaelin (12) throws the ball during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
Nebraska’s Dante Dowdell (23) runs the ball during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
Nebraska’s Luke Longval (19) throws the ball during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
Nebraska’s Keelan Smith (86) makes a catch during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
Nebraska’s Rex Guthrie (12) stops Keelan Smith (86) during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
Nebraska’s Keelan Smith (86) makes a catch in front of Nebraska’s D’Andre Barnes (35) during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
Nebraska’s Keelan Smith (86) makes a catch in front of Nebraska’s D’Andre Barnes (35) during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
A look inside Memorial Stadium during the spring game in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
Nebraska’s Sam Sledge (62), Nebraska’s Justin Evans (51) and Nebraska’s Jacob Brandl (78) warm up prior to the Nebraska football spring game in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
Nebraska fans walk around outside Memorial Stadium prior to the Nebraska football spring game in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
Nebraska fans walk towards Memorial Stadium prior to the Nebraska football spring game in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
Annabell Richter, 10, throws a football prior to the Nebraska football spring game in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
Nebraska’s Daniel Kaelin (12) warms up prior to the Nebraska football spring game in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
Nebraska’s Dylan Raiola (15) warms up prior to the Nebraska football spring game in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
Nebraska co-offensive coordinator Glenn Thomas watches warm ups prior to the Nebraska football spring game in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
Nebraska’s Kwinten Ives (28) warms up prior to the Nebraska football spring game in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
Nebraska’s Thomas Fidone II (24) warms up prior to the Nebraska football spring game in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule watches warm ups prior to the Nebraska football spring game in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
Nebraska’s Jack Woche (17) warms up prior to the Nebraska football spring game in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
Nebraska’s Dylan Raiola (15) and Daniel Kaelin (12) warm up prior to the Nebraska football spring game in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
Nebraska’s Heinrich Haarberg (10) warms up prior to the Nebraska football spring game in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
Nebraska’s Dylan Raiola (15) warms up prior to the Nebraska football spring game in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule reacts during warm ups prior to the Nebraska football spring game in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
Nebraska’s Dwight Bootle II (21) warms up prior to the Nebraska football spring game in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
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Sam McKewon, with the Omaha World-Herald, breaks down the Nebraska spring football game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
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