Austin Allen finding his voice as native Husker ambassador

Still six weeks ahead of Nebraska football’s season opener local Husker fans are getting a sense that they’ll have a front row seat to all the action in the 2021 season ahead, thanks to the young man wearing No. 11.
Austin Allen has been a dominating figure for years simply due to his height and the way he carries himself, but the Aurora native and former Husky standout has suddenly emerged as not only a team leader, but as an ambassador for all NU student-athletes as well.
A story on this week’s front page shares Allen’s perspective on being asked to serve as part of a search committee to help decide who will be the next NU athletic director. The folks invited behind those closed doors included an elite group of Husker legends and university leaders, and sitting tall among them was a young man who has found a voice and sense of confidence that perhaps not even he knew he had within.
Among the major points Allen spoke on when asked to share the perspective of current NU student-athletes was, along with Name Image and Likeness guidance, the importance of understanding the unique Nebraska culture. Those who grew up here or have lived in Nebraska for years use that term often, though what it means, exactly, is hard to put into words. In Allen’s view, you can’t, really, so the only way to have an athletic director who truly gets that culture is to hire someone who has lived it, embraced it, and has a sense of how to carry it forward. At a very young age, Allen can check those boxes himself.
Only time will tell how Trev Alberts will handle the opportunity, and pressure, of being the new Husker AD. Looking back over his predecessors, the success or failure of an AD’s vision takes years, if not decades, to document. It feels like a good fit on Day 1, though former UNO wrestlers and football players may disagree.
But back to No. 11, local Husker fans are as fanatic as anyone who wears Nebraska red. Whether you are a diehard fan or not, most share a passion about Husker football and all its traditions, which gives us a sense of connection, something fun to talk about and look forward to on fall Saturdays.
We’ve had several local connections to this team over the years, many earning playing time and making a significant contribution in various ways. That just adds to the fun. Surely this year, knowing where No. 11 is on the field will add a little extra incentive to pull for Big Red. We’re sure to see and hear this confident young man off the field as well, beginning this week as a team spokesman at Big Ten media days.
True to his character, Allen humbly accepts his role as a Husker ambassador, knowing that he had a lot of help from Aurora family, friends and coaches shaping him into the person he is today. Here’s a hometown high five to a young man who has earned his time in the spotlight.
Go get ’em, Oz!
Kurt Johnson