After Nebraska refuses to shake Iowa players’ hands, the Hawkeyes get the last laugh

IOWA CITY — Jay Higgins witnessed something during the pregame coin toss that he had never seen before “in my entire football career,” with the possible exception of peewee football.

“They didn’t put their hands out,” said Higgins, one of Iowa’s four captains. “So it was kind of weird.”

As caught on camera, the Iowa captains walked over with their hands extended for a handshake. But Nebraska’s captains remained quiet.

That’s not to mention how Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule also “went through the warm-up,” according to Higgins.

Higgins, after those moments, “knew immediately what type of game this was.” It didn’t stop before the game either.

“The first series we were on their sideline and I got a little close to their head coach,” Higgins said. “And I said, ‘It probably wasn’t a good idea not to shake our hands.’ And he goes, ‘Who are you?’

Higgins, explaining this to reporters, then turned to teammate and friend Nick Jackson and asked: “How many tackles do I have?”

“More than him,” Jackson said.

(For those keeping track, Higgins is up to 118 tackles this season.)

Iowa players were quick to paint a contrasting picture of what would happen in their own program under 26th-year head coach Kirk Ferentz.

“Kirk Ferentz – would he ever do something like that?” Higgins said to which Jackson quickly said “no”.

“Be a hawk,” Jackson said. “You see the difference.”

When asked about the situation in his postgame press conference, Ferentz said he’s “not too concerned about it.”

“I heard some things in the locker room, but I wasn’t out there,” Ferentz said. “So I didn’t see it and really can’t comment on it. There’s certain pregame etiquette most people follow, but again, I didn’t see it.”

Ferentz also noted that Higgins has “tremendous integrity.”

“So if Jay tells me something, I’m on board,” Ferentz said.

For most of Friday night, it didn’t look like the Huskers’ mental tactics would bite them. They had a 10-0 lead at halftime, which felt even bigger considering the Hawkeyes had just 20 yards in the first half.

“How well did they have a good time during the break?” Higgins said. “We didn’t shake our hands, up 10, they were probably in that locker room going crazy.”

Iowa obviously didn’t get its handshake from Nebraska before the game, but it did get something much better — a win. (It’s a win that comes with a rivalry trophy, bragging rights and an edge when it comes to next weekend’s bowl election.)

“So after the game, because they didn’t want to shake our hands before the game, I went up to their head coach and shook his hand,” Higgins said. “Told him, ‘Good game.'”

Higgins said he couldn’t remember what Rhule said to him after the handshake because he was “just really happy we won.”

But the handshake itself? “I will remember that handshake probably for the rest of my life.”

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