Harper Murray and John Cook? Now that’s a duo that goes way beyond X’s and O’s. Just a month after Cook waved his final goodbye to Nebraska, with Dani Busboom Kelly stepping in, Harper made sure his farewell had one last signature moment. During the grand finale at the Bob Devaney Center in February, she did what she does best—got Coach Cook to post one last TikTok. But, of course, he had to throw in his own twist. “Now Harper can’t force me into TikToks anymore,” he joked in the caption, proving that even retirement wasn’t going to stop him from dropping a punchline.
This TikTok saga wasn’t just a one-time thing—it was a whole era. Back in 2024, Nebraska locked in a partnership with Seager, and Cook got hit with an unexpected plot twist. Turns out, he had a TikTok and a viral one at that—racking up over 151,000 views. But who was the mastermind? No surprises there. “Apparently Harper manages my TikTok account. I didn’t even know I had TikTok on my phone. They grabbed my phone and then TikTok happened. …But hey, if they like it, I like it.” And now, Nebraska’s Harper Murray spills the tea on how she turned John Cook into a chill, TikTok-famous coaching legend.
When Harper Murray sat down with Hurrdat Sports, the host couldn’t help but point out the obvious—she had done the impossible. “You took a coach that no one could get out of his shell, and you created someone that people were able to relate a little bit more to.” And the wildest part? No one, not even the players, knew it was his last season. But looking back, it felt pretty special. Somehow, she had taken this old-school, tough-as-nails coach and got him to enjoy the game with a smile just a little more. That’s next-level influence right there.
Harper couldn’t help but laugh. “Yeah, well, the thing that we always try and remember is like…he’s a grandpa.” And not just any grandpa—the kind who rolls into practice with his little granddaughter and suddenly turns into the softest guy ever. But don’t get it twisted. One second, he’s making them so mad and yelling like it’s his full-time job, and the next, they’re all reminding themselves, “he’s just an old man, he’s gonna be grumpy sometimes.”
And then came the TikTok moment. No permission, no warning—she just grabbed his phone and made it happen. He’d always claim, “I don’t even have the app”—but guess what? He totally did. “I was like, no, you have the app, it’s just not on your home screen.” And even though he acted like it was no big deal, she knew the truth. “He definitely enjoyed it more than he acted like he did.”
That little moment of fun? It did more than just give the internet a new favorite coach—it brought the whole team closer. “You guys have seen it. He’s stone cold when he’s on the sideline. He doesn’t show emotion, and if he does, it’s probably anger.” But for once, they got to see a different side of him. A side that laughed, played along, and maybe, just maybe, let his guard down. And that? That made this past season hit different.
This story is developing…
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