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The Nebraska Huskers have been on fire this season, rolling into the Final Four with all the swagger of a team determined to erase the sting of last year’s heartbreak. Led by the ever-intense John Cook, the Huskers have been dominant, dropping only two games all season. Now, they’re gearing up for a high-stakes showdown against Penn State in the semifinals—a matchup dripping with drama. Why? Because the Nittany Lions handed Nebraska one of those two losses, snapping their jaw-dropping 25-game win streak with a 3-1 victory. Yep, it’s personal.

Revenge is officially on the menu, but Penn State won’t go down easily. For Cook and his squad, this isn’t just about making the finals—it’s about settling the score. And let’s be honest, Cook’s probably been replaying that regular-season loss on a loop like it’s his favorite (or least favorite?) movie. So, imagine the tension in Louisville as these two volleyball powerhouses collide.

But leave it to the host city to lighten the mood with, wait for it… a horse. Yes, Louisville, famous for its equine culture, decided to trot out a horse wearing a Nebraska jersey with the number 24 on its back during the pre-game lineup announcement. Because, why not? It’s Kentucky—horses are kind of their thing.

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The unexpected moment sent social media into a frenzy. Mitch Sherman of The Athletic kept it low-key with, “Nothing to see here. Just a horse at the volleyball match.” Meanwhile, Lincoln Arneal of Huskers Illustrated delivered the punchline we didn’t know we needed: “John Cook’s dream come true.” And he’s not wrong—Cook is a huge horse guy!

 

In fact, he loves them so much that the coach made quite an absurd request during a round of contract extension talks. Cook was being offered a $70,000 bonus by Athletic Director Troy Dannen for his services. However, the coach had another thing in mind. “When Troy and I talked about my contract, I proposed that instead of an annual escalating salary that some coaches do, it would mean a great deal to me if the Nebraska Athletic Department would consider supporting me in purchasing a horse out in central Nebraska that I’ve had my eye on,” he said.

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This request definitely turned heads, but hey, who’s going to tell John Cook no? The legendary coach went all in and bought horse no. 415—an equine he’d apparently been eyeing for quite some time. Yep, this move is peak Cook: a little eccentric, a lot passionate, and absolutely unapologetic. But here’s the kicker: the horse’s story didn’t stop there.

How John Cook named his precious horse

The saga of how Nebraska Huskers coach John Cook got his beloved horse is already a tale for the ages, but naming it? That was a whole new level of fan engagement. Instead of going solo, Cook decided to let Husker Nation have their say. Fans were invited to submit suggestions, and after sifting through the options, Cook narrowed it down to his favorites and put the final decision to a vote. Talk about making everyone feel like part of the family!

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The fans came through in style, with a whopping 7,099 votes going to the winning name: Rev, short for “Revival.” It’s a fitting nod to Nebraska’s resilience and relentless pursuit of greatness. Other contenders—Cash, Ship, and Rip—had their moment in the poll, but Rev galloped ahead to claim victory.

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Now, Rev isn’t just a horse. It’s officially part of the Cook family—and by extension, the Husker family. In Nebraska, that means Rev is practically a team member. You can almost picture the equine mascot silently ‘cheering’ (or maybe just munching on hay) as the Huskers take on Penn State in their semifinal clash. Will the team channel some of Rev’s energy to secure their second straight trip to the final? One thing’s for sure: this horse has already earned its place in Husker lore.

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John Cook's horse obsession—genius motivation or just plain eccentric? What's your take on this?