Governor Jim Pillen Talks Husker Football With the Common Fans

Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen joins the Common Fans to talk about his path from a small-town Nebraska kid hoping for a chance to play for the Huskers to becoming a two-time first-team All-Big Eight selection—and, eventually, Governor of Nebraska. Along the way, he shares some fantastic behind-the-scenes stories about Coach Osborne, his thoughts on Matt Rhule, and what concerns him about the direction of college football.

And yes, we finally get a sitting governor on the record about the possibility of banning fall weddings.

Playing for Tom Osborne Pillen takes the Common Fans back to a very different era of recruiting. His first contact from Osborne came through a card in the mail around the 1974 Cotton Bowl. "My heart is somehow to get to Nebraska," Pillen remembers telling another coach who wanted him to take a recruiting visit.