The best insight into Mark Manning's personality is to look at how he tackled former Nebraska football player Brandon Rigoni during the "Tussle on the Turf."
He attacked him.
The Nebraska wrestling coach had five chances to take down Rigoni before the goal line. The challenge occurred last summer and took place after a football practice in front of members of NU's wrestling and football teams. Several other members of Nebraska Athletics attended. Both Manning and Rigoni donned full pads.
Manning was the big underdog, but he didn't stand and wait for Rigoni. He went right after him. Sure, Manning gave up three touchdowns, but the wrestling coach eventually got the take down to win the challenge.
That's what Manning, now a YouTube sensation, wants his Nebraska wrestlers to do – attack their opponents.
To Manning, that is what Nebraska wrestling is about.
"I think our identity is that our guys are going to come to compete," Manning said. "We are attackers, and attackers come at you for seven minutes. I think people appreciate it."
The people who do attend the meets appreciate it. Those fans have been fortunate enough to see how Nebraska's unsung coach operates his team.
Manning and his wrestling program fly under the radar. We hear about Bo Pelini's turnaround for the football team and how John Cook heads up a volleyball power. Now, the new coaching genius is NU men's basketball coach Doc Sadler.
All the while, Manning continues to produce gaudy numbers for an under-appreciated program.
He has overseen 27 of Nebraska's 82 wrestling All-Americans. He's lead Nebraska to four top-eight performances at the NCAA Championships. That is a third of the 12 total top-eight performances in program history.
This is only Manning's ninth year, but he's already left a lasting mark on the program.
This is the year Nebraska was slated to take it to another level. Nebraska was returning five All-Americans including National Champion Paul Donahue.
Early last summer, Donahue and fellow wrestler Kenny Jordan left the program amid controversy over photos the duo took for a Web site.
Two weeks ago, Brandon Browne's mother passed away days before a pivotal Iowa State dual. It left team members in a funk. Manning promised he'd get them back on track.
Manning doesn't allowed any excuses and his team hasn't made any.
"You deal with it and you move on," Manning said. "You make the most of every day."
Manning has made sure Nebraska has made the most of every day this season.
Nebraska won tournaments in Omaha and Las Vegas. He's kept them competing at a high level no matter the situation. He's turned the program into a machine and he's enjoyed every minute of it.
"It's been a really gratifying season," Manning said. "We've had a lot of great wins and we've only lost three matches. I think a lot of people would like to change places with us."
He won't say this is the best team he's coached yet. But he won't rule it out, because he has seen the team come together over the course of the season.
"They've bought into the identity of the program," Manning said. "The older guys have really taken on leadership roles and I see other guys that are rising up to their level."
On Saturday, Nebraska will compete in the Big 12 Championships at home.
Go out and see undefeated Jordan Burroughs compete for another Big 12 Conference title. Go root on seniors Browne, Vince Jones and Rob Sanders. Go watch Manning's team outwork their opponents.
Don't just embrace Husker wrestling – attack it.
That's what Manning would do.
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