It’s no secret that the NCAA Championships is a massive tournament, with 64 teams competing to capture the national title. However, some matchups occasionally showcase the true depth of the championship, and the upcoming Nebraska Huskers vs. Florida A&M game is a perfect example. That’s because Nebraska head coach John Cook has waited 20 years for this rematch.

Yes, you read that right. The last time Cook & Co. faced the Rattlers on the NCAA court was in 2004. In his 25th year as Nebraska volleyball’s head coach, Cook has won the NCAA title more times than faced Florida A&M. However, even after his monumental success, Cook has not forgotten the day his team lost 3-1 against Florida A&M, and it presents him with a unique problem.

John Cook reveals the reality of the clash

The four-time national title-winning coach sat for a pre-NCAA Championship presser with Nebraska stars Bergen Reilly and Andi Jackson. While discussing what they expected from Florida, the veteran coach explained what the matchup meant to him. “They’re very consistent being in the NCAA tournament. And they have a very cool nickname, the Rattlers, and we’re all in against them. So this is gonna be, for me, they weren’t born yet, but for me, this is payback,” Cook said while pointing at his athletes.

And with that single sentence, John Cook put the entire match into perspective. While the former AVCA Coach of the Year may not have forgotten the two-decade-old defeat, the current roster does not feel the same sting. 19-year-old setter Bergen Reilly and 18-year-old sophomore Andi Jackson are the perfect examples of what the head coach tried to convey.

However, that doesn’t mean Cook hasn’t revealed how he feels about the upcoming clash with his team. The Nebraska HC revealed he has spoken to the team about the Rattler’s loss during the NCAA Volleyball Selection Show Press Conference on December 2. “Oh yeah! They were all saying I wasn’t even born. Yeah, well, I was there, so I saw it,” said Coach Cook with a grin.

Yet, just because most of the Cornhuskers are younger than this NCAA rivalry doesn’t mean they’ll take the first-round clash lightly. Unlike John Cook, the current roster wasn’t around during the 2004 loss, which makes Florida A&M an unfamiliar opponent. Thankfully, the national title hopefuls have just the man to guide them.

What does the Nebraska Huskers head coach expect?

When asked if the Rattlers were the “typical first-rounder,” the HC explained why Florida is unlike their typical BIG10 rivals. “Their coach is from Turkey, so they play an international kind of style of volleyball,” revealed the veteran coach. Coach Cook also explained how Florida A&M prefers to utilize a fast-paced approach, with “probably the fastest tempo we’ve seen all year.”

Nebraska title contenders such as Wisconsin, Penn State, and others during the regular season. And while John Cook acknowledged that their relentless pace may result in an unrefined approach, Florida A&M is not to be underestimated. So how does the six-time BIG10 Coach of the Year plan to counter the Ratter’s speed in the grudge match?

“The key for us will be, can we serve them and get them out of the system all the time,” explained the Huskers mastermind. Besides analyzing the now evolved style the Rattlers bring to the table, Cook also has an ace up his sleeve. “Merritt’s (Beason) already played them a couple times already,” said the coach. So the coach hopes that Beason will be able to lead the charge against the Rattlers.

After all, John Cook’s desire to avenge a two-decade-old loss isn’t his only motivation. This is the final chance for seniors Merritt Beason, Lexi Rodriguez, Lindsay Krause, and others to nab a national title. So there’s a look more at the stake for the Huskers than just payback.