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Steven M. Sipple: Looking for 'incremental improvement,' Alberts sees NU in same sloppy form

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A Lee Enterprises, Incorporated newspaper. Majority shareholder: David Hoffmann, Hoffmann Media Group.

Topical Alert Top Story

Steven M. Sipple: Looking for 'incremental improvement,' Alberts sees NU in same sloppy form

From the Recap Week 0 with the Journal Star crew. Here's all of our Huskers content, in one spot series

• Aug 28, 2021
• Aug 28, 2021 Updated Oct 3, 2021
• 0

Nebraska coach Scott Frost walks on the field as the Illinois players celebrate their 30-22 win over the Huskers on Saturday at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Ill.

FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star

Steven M. Sipple

Husker sports columnist

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Steven M. Sipple

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Photos: Nebraska falls to Illinois in season opener

Nebraska senior offensive analyst Ron Brown (left) and tight end Austin Allen (11) head off the field at the end of the team's 30-22 loss to Illinois on Aug. 28 at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Ill.

FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star file photo

Nebraska coach Scott Frost and the sideline watch the video monitor during a review of an Illinois pass reception on Saturday at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Ill.

FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star file photo

Nebraska's Ben Stille and Ty Robinson (99) combine on a tackle of Illinois' Chase Hayden (22) on Aug. 28, 2021, in Champaign, Ill.

Journal Star file photo

Nebraska quarterback Adrian Martinez (2) takes off on a 75-yard touchdown run in the third quarter against Illinois on Saturday at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Ill.

FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star

Nebraska wide receiver Samori Toure pulls in a pass, but an offensive pass interference penalty negated the reception in the third quarter on Saturday at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Ill.

FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star

Temperatures for Nebraska's game against Illinois on Aug. 28, 2021, neared 100 degrees. 

Journal Star file photo

Nebraska quarterback Adrian Martinez (2) takes the snap from Husker center Cam Jurgens (51) in the fourth quarter against Illinois on Saturday at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Ill.

FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star

Nebraska quarterback Adrian Martinez looks for running yardage in the fourth quarter against Illinois on Saturday in Champaign, Ill.

FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star

Nebraska receiver Samori Toure looks for running room against Illinois' Tony Adams (6) on Saturday at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Ill.

FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star

Nebraska's Caleb Tannor (2) steps over an official's flag after a roughing the passer penalty was assessed against him on his tackle of Illinois quarterback Artur Sitkowski (9) as Doug Kramer (65) looks on Saturday at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Ill.

FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star

 Nebraska kicker Connor Culp (33) watches his first-half field goal against Illinois on Saturday, Aug. 28, at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Ill.

FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star

Nebraska quarterback Adrian Martinez (2) gets the ball from center Cam Jurgens (right) as lineman Matt Sichterman (70) takes on Illinois' Jer'Zhan Newton on Aug. 28 at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Ill.

FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star file photo

Nebraska running back Gabe Ervin rushes the ball against Illinois on Aug. 28, 2021 at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Ill.

FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star

Illinois running back Reggie Love (23) gets swarmed by the Nebraska defense on Saturday at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Ill.

FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star

Nebraska coach Scott Frost (right) watches the action on the field in the first half against Illinois on Aug. 28 at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Ill.

FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star file photo

Nebraska quarterback Adrian Martinez (2) calls a timeout as linemen Bryce Benhart (52) and Matt Sichterman (70) and running back Gabe Ervin look on Saturday at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Ill.

FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star

Nebraska wide receiver Oliver Martin (89) signals a first down after a first-half reception against Illinois on Saturday at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Ill.

FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star

Nebraska's Pheldarius Payne (0) celebrates his sack of Illinois quarterback Brandon Peters on Saturday at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Ill.

FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star

Nebraska's Pheldarius Payne sacks Illinois quarterback Brandon Peters on Saturday at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Ill. Illinois won 30-22.

FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star

Nebraska running back Gabe Ervin (22) runs against a quartet of Illinois defenders on Saturday at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Ill.

FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star

Nebraska coach Scott Frost leads the Huskers out of the tunnel on Saturday during the season-opener against Illinois on Saturday at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Ill.

FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star

Nebraska running back Gabe Ervin gets the ball from quarterback Adrian Martinez as the offensive line tries to create room against Illinois in the first half Aug. 28th in Champaign, Illinois. 

FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star

Nebraska players run onto the field to take on Illinois on Saturday in Champaign, Ill.

FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star

Illinois quarterback Artur Sitkowski (9) is helped up by teammate Doug Kramer (65) after a penalty call on Nebraska's Caleb Tannor in the first half Saturday at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Ill.

FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star

Illinois quarterback Artur Sitkowski gets pressured by Nebraska's Caleb Tannor on a first-half play that resulted in a penalty on Tannor on Saturday at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Ill.

FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star

Nebraska quarterback Adrian Martinez scrambles for yardage in the fourth quarter against Illinois on Saturday at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Ill.

FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star

Nebraska quarterback Adrian Martinez looks for an open teammate to throw to before taking off on a 75-yard touchdown run in the third quarter against Illinois on Saturday at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Ill.

FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star

Illinois' Isaiah Williams (1) celebrates what turned out to be his game-winning touchdown against Nebraska in the third quarter with teammates Alex Pihlstrom (75), Luke Ford (82) and Doug Kramer (65) on Saturday at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Ill.

FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star

Nebraska receiver Oliver Martin pulls in a 4-yard touchdown pass against Illinois in the fourth quarter Saturday at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Ill.

FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star

Nebraska kicker Connor Culp (left) reacts after missing an extra-point in the fourth quarter against Illinois on Saturday at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Ill.

FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star

Nebraska quarterback Adrian Martinez looks to throw under pressure from Illinois' Jake Hansen in the second half Saturday at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Ill.

FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star

Illinois' Isaiah Williams (1) celebrates what turned out to be his game-winning touchdown against Nebraska in the third quarter as teammates Luke Ford (82) and Daniel Barker look on along with Huskers' Garrett Nelson on Saturday at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Ill. Illinois won 30-22.

FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star

Illinois' Deuce Spann pulls in a 45-yard reception in front of Nebraska's Marquel Dismuke in the second half Saturday at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Ill.

FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star

Nebraska running back Markese Stepp (30), who scored a first-half touchdown, walks off the field after Illinois defeated the Huskers 30-22 Saturday at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Ill.

FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star

Nebraska head coach Scott Frost and Illinois head coach Bret Bielema shake hands after the Illini defeated the Huskers 30-22 in 2021.

FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star

Nebraska coach Scott Frost walks on the field as the Illinois players celebrate their 30-22 win over the Huskers on Saturday at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Ill.

FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star

Nebraska running back Markese Stepp (30) pulls in a first-down pass in the first quarter Saturday at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Ill.

FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star

Nebraska wide receiver Oliver Martin (89) pulls in a first-down pass against Illinois' Devon Witherspoon in the second quarter Aug. 28 at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Ill.

FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star file photo

Nebraska running back Markese Stepp (30) pulls in a first-down pass in the first quarter Saturday at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Ill.

FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star

Nebraska running back Markese Stepp (30) celebrates his second-quarter touchdown with teammate Samori Toure (3) on Saturday, Aug. 28, at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Ill.

FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star

Deontai Williams (8) celebrates a two-yard tackle for a loss with teammate Garrett Nelson (44) in the first half Saturday at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Ill.

FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star

Nebraska defenders pounce on a fumbled ball by Illinois' Miles Scott (85) in the second quarter on Saturday at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Ill.

FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star

Nebraska quarterback Adrian Martinez (2) can only watch as his fumble is returned for an Illinois touchdown in the second quarter on Saturday, Aug. 28, at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Ill.

FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star

Wynot native Scott Foxhoven, currently studying for his Ph.D at Illinois, plays cornhole Saturday outside Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Ill.

FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star

Les and Leisa Piper, parents of Nebraska offensive lineman Ethan Piper, joined their twin daughters Elly and Jozy in the shade as they waited for the team buses outside Memorial Stadium on Saturday in Champaign, Ill.

FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star

Nebraska offensive line mothers (from left to right) Judy Sichterman, mother of Matt; Micki Hixson, mother of Trent; Leisa Piper, mother of Ethan and Shannon Corcoran, mother of Turner, pose for a photo as they wait for the team buses to arrive outside Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Ill.

FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star

Brandon Sanford, father of Nebraska cornerback Phelan Sanford, waits for the team buses to arrive outside Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Ill.

FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star

Brothers Charlie (right) and Brook Beck of Papillion join with other Husker fans as they greet the arrival of the team outside Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Ill.

FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star

Nebraska fan JohnPaul Gosda, 2, of Champaign, Ill., watches as the adults play cornhole outside Memorial Stadium.

FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star

In this Series

Recap Week 0 with the Journal Star crew. Here's all of our Huskers content, in one spot

• Updated Aug 30, 2021

  Parker Gabriel and Steven M. Sipple break down Huskers-Illini, and field your questions

• Updated Oct 3, 2021

  Steven M. Sipple: Looking for 'incremental improvement,' Alberts sees NU in same sloppy form

• Updated Oct 3, 2021

  'It looked like the same movie': Mistakes, sloppy play cost Huskers in season-opening loss to Illinois

• 11 updates

• Previous
• Next

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Steven M. Sipple

Husker sports columnist

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Nebraska coach Scott Frost walks on the field as the Illinois players celebrate their 30-22 win over the Huskers on Saturday at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Ill.

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