Oz’s record showing

Everything finally started to fall into place for Austin Allen in Badgerland. 
Well, except for one thing. 
The Nebraska co-captain had the game of his life Saturday, catching seven passes for 143 yards in Saturday’s road game at Wisconsin, a single game school record for a tight end. 
Yet, it still wasn’t enough. 
The Huskers suffered its eighth gut punch of the season, losing again by one score to a ranked Badgers team. 
How does this keep happening?
Oz is really starting to enter some rare air in Nebraska football history. 
Along with setting new single-game tight end receiving yards record, he also broke the school record for receptions in a season with 36 through 11 games. 
The former Husky’s 143 yards vs Wisconsin broke Johnny Mitchell’s 137 in 1991 while his 36 receptions on the year broke Tyler Hoppes’ 34 from 2017. 
Depending on how the season finale goes against Iowa Friday, Oz could set the single-season record for tight end receiving yards, surpassing Junior Miller.
While he did smile for a quarter of a second at the postgame podium after the Wisconsin game hearing about his record-setting day, his tone quickly went back to getting the team “right.”
“If I had my choice, I’d go zero catches all season if I knew we’d win every game, and I know a lot of the guys on the team feel the same way,” Allen said after Nebraska’s 35-28 loss to Wisconsin. “But I’m grateful for it. There were plays to be made across the board today and a lot of us went out and did it. We just came out one or two plays short.”
Team guy. We know that. 
For whatever reason, whether it was schematically or otherwise, Adrian Martinez found his 6’9” big man rumbling free. 
Oz found plenty of ways to get open Saturday, whether it was over the middle or out in the flat. 
I remember telling friend of the program Dave Bradley that Oz would have room to rumble if they get him the ball in the flat outside the numbers. 
Sure, Scott Frost has no business taking playcalling advice from me (although my services are available for a potential offensive coordinator position). 
But, how refreshing was it to see Martinez not only hit Oz on some downfield plays, but continue to find Samori Toure in similar fashion with huge shot plays against the vaunted Badgers defense. 
“The mentality was we were going to come out and take some shots,” Allen said. “That’s the way Wisconsin has been beaten this year, is people have had some plays and took great shots. We knew that, across the board, we were just going to have to make the plays.”
“I think, the way they play, gives you some opportunities to get it to the tight end,” Frost said postgame. “Austin’s awesome. He’s a real guy.”
No doubt. 
Austin will participate in Senior Day festivities Friday, but added he hasn’t decided on coming back for a final season, or leaving for the pros. 
He’s earned the right to do whatever he wants, with no second-guessing from the rest of us. 
He’s one of the best to do it at that position for the Big Red. 
If Friday is the last time we see Oz in a Nebraska football uniform, let’s enjoy it. 
RICHARD RHODEN can be reached at sports@hamilton.net.