Shawn Eichorst came before the media Thursday, reiterating a statement he put out earlier in the day that the Huskers "will continue to do everything we can moving forward to make sure we preserve that tradition" of playing on Black Friday.

It takes two to dance, of course. Eichorst will have to get Minnesota on board to do this in the 2020 and 2001 seasons. The Nebraska athletic director said he contacted the Gopher athletic director on Wednesday to begin those discussions. Early talks were positive on that front, according to Eichorst, but he added, "Stay tuned."

Nebraska is scheduled to play Iowa on Black Fridays through the 2019 season, but on Tuesday it was revealed the Huskers would end their 2020 and 2021 seasons playing against Minnesota. Iowa will play Wisconsin that final week.

Asked if he wanted the Huskers to have the same end-of-season foe every year, Eichorst said he respected all the teams in the league. "I'm happy playing anybody at the end."

Eichorst added that keeping Husker traditions, such as the Black Friday game that Nebraska has played every year since 1990, are always atop his mind.

"Those of you who have been around me enough know that I cherish those things, that I think about those things, and that hopefully I've advanced that with a number of things since I've done here," Eichorst said.

He pointed out the addition of the Devaney statue, the growth of the Husker Hall-of-Fame plaza, the retiring of Husker jerseys and having an 'N Club' letterwinners program in-house, among other things.

"But I also think you guys know that when I haven't been clear, and I obviously wasn't clear on Tuesday with a comment or a few I made, that I will let you know that I do make mistakes, and I'm not perfect," Eichorst said.

Over the course of the past 48 hours, after a statement from Eichorst suggested the Huskers preferred to play that final game on Saturday for health and safety reasons for the athletes, he heard from many constituents and had communications with NU President Hank Bounds and UNL Chancellor Ronnie Green about keeping that game on Friday.

"That's where we are today," Eichorst said. "Today we are working really, really hard, diligently, to make sure that happens moving forward."

The voices of fans also weighed heavy in why the Huskers appeared to change course in the last 48 hours on wanting to keep playing on Black Friday.

"Absolutely. Our fans are terrific, are passionate. It certainly did matter. At the end of the day, I think that hopefully what I bring to the table is someone that is willing to listen and do the right thing."

Eichorst didn't get overly specific about Iowa being switched out as Nebraska's end-of-season foe for at least those two years.

"I think the conference has spoken to that topic, that there was a thought that rotating four of the teams in the West (Nebraska, Iowa, Wisconsin, Minnesota) made some sense. But I think that folks will continue to monitor and take a look at that."

As for the fight between appeasing those in the Big Ten on certain matters and guarding Nebraska's best interests at the same time, the athletic director said, "First and foremost, my job and allegiance is to Nebraska. So I'm going to continue to do everything I can to represent Nebraska in everything that's right by what we want. Certainly there's a balance by being a part of an illustrious league, the best league in the country, the best football league in the country, so you're going to have some competing interests at times."

Eichorst repeated that while the Huskers are put forward, "there at times need to be some compromise."