It’s about to go down at Nebraska! And Dani Busboom Kelly isn’t wasting any time—she’s suiting up for her coaching debut sooner than we all thought. On March 6, Lincoln Arneal dropped the scoop: “Nebraska will play Kansas in a spring exhibition on April 26 at 6:30 p.m. at the Devaney Center.” That’s right—DBK is stepping into the spotlight for her first match at the helm, and honestly, the vibes are already through the roof. Kansas’ Matt Ulmer is also stepping in as a fresh face, with both squads reloaded after their legendary coaches called it a day. But hold up—this ain’t your usual spring scrimmage scene.
Head coach Matt Rhule’s flipping the playbook with The Husker Games—a full-blown sports fest packed with football, volleyball, and even soccer spice. Rhule made it loud and clear back in Feb: no basic spring game this time. Why? To keep poachers at bay. So now it’s 7-on-7 action, Pro Bowl-style skill battles, Husker legends back in the mix, and even women’s flag football. But before the fireworks fly, Dani Busboom Kelly opened up about how missing pieces—aka Lexi Rodriguez and Merritt Beason—have reshaped the squad.
When Hail Varsity threw the question at Dani Busboom Kelly—“What’s up this spring, kind of taking the other one under the wing?”—she didn’t sugarcoat it. DBK straight-up said, “Yeah, part of this spring that’s new for this team is the leadership roles that Merritt and Lexi have been told played and that they’re absent now.” With those two not around, the team’s been feeling that gap big time. She even admitted, “There has been moments where it’s been… I don’t want to like—‘power struggles’ has a negative connotation. But that’s kind of what it is.”
The vibes? Very much a “who’s going to step up here?” kind of situation. Players are figuring out who’s got the voice, who’s got the vibe, and who’s ready to rally the crew. But instead of spiraling, the squad’s been leveling up. DBK gave major props, saying, “The team’s done a really good job of having those conversations with each other and trying to figure out what works best for them.”
Sure, the coaching staff has been nudging them here and there, but she made it clear—“They’ve taken the reins on most of that.” It’s been a spring of shakeups, glow-ups, and finding that new rhythm without their usual anchors. And hey, no better time than now to find out who’s built to lead the next era of Husker heat.
This story is developing…
The post Dani Busboom Kelly Reveals How Lexi Rodriguez and Merritt Beason’s Absence Has Pushed Nebraska Stars Toward Change appeared first on EssentiallySports.
