The Nebraska Huskers are currently red hot with a dominating semifinal win over the Pittsburgh Panthers. The Huskers secured their berth in the finals after knocking Pittsburgh out with a clean sweep. Interestingly, while the players of Nebraska were through with their clean-sweeping action, head coach John Cook came up with a sweep of his own.

Nebraska Huskers volleyball players and John Cook attended a press conference in the middle of their training for the finals. One interviewer asked him an odd question during the event. However, Cook got right back at him with a fierce reply. He also ended up adding loads of heat to Nebraska’s arch-rivalry with the Wisconsin Badgers.

When the Nebraska Huskers head coach was cooking

Nebraska Volleyball tweeted a video of the “National Championship Press Conference” on its official X account. The video showed Nebraska Huskers Volleyball head coach John Cook being thrown a curveball question right from the get-go. He was asked, “Coach, both head coaches are from California. Coincidence, you think?” 

The interviewer tried to draw a similarity between Cook, and the head coach of Nebraska’s final opponent, the Texas Longhorns, Jerritt Elliott, who is also from California. Responding to this, Cook said, “I have no idea. I’m a Nebraskan now. You can even ask the governor. He says I’m a Nebraskan.”

While this hilarious comment from Cook aptly answered the odd question, it also added more fire in the Nebraska Huskers and Wisconsin Badgers rivalry. Before joining Nebraska, Cook was the head coach of Wisconsin. The rivalry between both teams peaked in 2023, as both defeated each other on their home courts.

The 2023 episode of the longtime Nebraska-Wisconsin rivalry

While John Cook held an incredible 161-73 record in seven seasons with Wisconsin, the program failed to win any national championships. However, Cook has coached the Nebraska Huskers to four of its five NCAA Women’s Volleyball Championship wins since he became their head coach in 2000.

While one may argue that John Cook now has a better team, it can also be said that the 67-year-old is more seasoned than before. Interestingly, while Cook’s first championship win with the Nebraska Huskers came in 2000 itself by beating Wisconsin in the finals, the Badgers won their first title in 2021 against Nebraska in the finals.

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Many expected their fierce rivalry to reach a third national championship showdown this year. However, the defending champion, Texas, eliminated Wisconsin to reach the finals instead. Interestingly, Nebraska has already defeated Texas twice in the finals in 1995 and 2015. Will John Cook and the Nebraska Huskers land another blow to Wisconsin by beating Texas a third time?

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