Troy Dannen shows he knows more than Nebraska football

A large white gift bag sat on the makeshift stage on the third floor of West Memorial Stadium.

In the immediate moments after interim President Chris Kabourek introduced Troy Dannen as Nebraska’s 17th athletic director, Kabourek pulled out a custom No. 17 Nebraska football jersey for Troy. The two posed with it for photos. But they weren’t done.

Kabourek then grabbed another football jersey, a smaller one designated for William, the Dannens’ youngest son, with the No. 24. And then, a red long-sleeved Nebraska volleyball jersey made specifically for Elle, the Dannens’ youngest daughter. For Amy, Troy’s wife, a small Nebraska-themed clear bag.

William immediately put the jersey on over his red Adidas jacket. At first sight of her jersey, Elle’s eyes lit up. She smiled at her dad and draped the soon-to-be well-loved jersey over her right arm.

“The highlight of the day was my daughter getting that volleyball jersey standing up at the front today,” Troy Dannen said near the end of his media Q&A session in the Hawks Championship Center. “She will wear that thing for days and days and days at school. She’s a volleyball fan, but she knows what Nebraska volleyball is as well.”

A small gesture. A meaningful gesture. One that showed that girls and women don’t just belong in Nebraska Athletics, but that they’re a priority.

At Nebraska, yes, football is king. There was plenty of that in Dannen’s opening remarks and follow-up Q&A.

Dannen didn’t shy away from how football coach Matt Rhule was a reason why he jumped at the opportunity to be Nebraska’s next athletic director. Dannen and Gov. Jim Pillen both invoked Tom Osborne in their remarks. Dannen spoke of Nebraska’s past football…