Author: jonathanshort

The news around the Nebraska football program this week has been a rollercoaster. From key pieces moving on, to recruits putting pen to paper, there has been a plethora of ups and downs. The way it feels to be taking in all of the news is reminiscent of how my dog releases his pent-up energy— A.K.A. the zoomies. No, I’m not full sprinting through the house, slipping and sliding on the composite flooring, but my mind feels similar.  We’ll start with the negatives to get them out of the way.  Alongside former Defensive Coordinator Tony White, Defensive Line Coach Terrance…

In this ever more volatile world of college football, change is expected, but no matter how expected, change can still hurt.  It was announced Monday afternoon that Nebraska Defensive Coordinator, Tony White, has signed a deal with the Florida State Seminoles. A move from White does not come as a shock, given there were teams in the market for him this time last year, but the strange part of the departure is the job he accepted is not a Head Coaching position. White will remain a Defensive Coordinator with the Seminoles.  Losing White is a blow to the team, but…

It’s like there’s a secret contract between the Nebraska and Iowa football teams, and in the fine print, at the very bottom, in great detail, it states that Nebraska must commit an untimely turnover in the waning moments, putting the Hawkeyes in field goal range to win the game. New year, eerily similar result.  Apart from the one massive strip sack by Hawkeye defender Max Llewellyn, there were two other plays that defined this game, both of which led directly to Iowa’s first two scores.  The first play was the botched punt return that gave the Hawkeyes the ball at…

Some games just feel a little different— like there’s a chord waiting to be struck;  a play waiting to light Memorial Stadium into a firestorm. That chord was struck on the very opening kickoff when Jacorey Barney Jr. returned the ball all the way to midfield. It was a “We’re not here to mess around” kind of attitude that can inject itself into the veins of a team. There was an electricity to this one that felt unflappable, and Wisconsin had no choice but to take it on the chin.  Eight years is a long time, and it feels surreal…

In a matchup between two 5-5 football teams, Nebraska will host the Wisconsin Badgers on Saturday at Memorial Stadium. There’s a myriad of parallels between the two teams going into this game— both have 2nd year head coaches, both have relieved their Offensive Coordinators of their duties  in the last two weeks, and last but not least, both are one win away from securing a bowl game.  Wisconsin hosted #1 Oregon last week at Camp Randall and nearly came out with the win, but a stagnant offense prevented the upset, and with their third loss in a row, Head Coach…

After a Ceyair Wright pick six to get the scoring started, you’d have thought the story of the game was already written— the former Trojan turned Husker makes a gigantic play in his return to the Coliseum, helping Nebraska to their first bowl game.   You’d have thought wrong.  The Huskers went on to do Husker things, and like a revolving door of hurt and sorrow, there’s another loss to add to the list. Time and time again, USC found a way to create big plays on offense, the majority of their success coming in that fashion. In his first…

The Huskers have three chances left to salvage the season from yet another bowl-less winter, and the first opportunity to make that happen will come against the USC Trojans.  Earlier this week, in an unprecedented move, Head Coach Matt Rhule announced that Dana Holgorsen will take over the play calling role in lieu of Marcus Satterfield. While Satterfield will no longer be the one calling the shots, he will remain on staff as the Tight Ends Coach.  It’s not just Nebraska who has recently been in the spotlight of the national media. Earlier this week USC was fined $50,000 by…

No one thing can save an offense if its counterparts aren’t also holding up their end of the bargain. Offensive Coordinator Marcus Satterfield is a part of the equation, and by no means is this an attempt to rid Satterfield of his own shortcomings. There are clearly issues between the headsets, but where else does it feel like Nebraska football has lacked? It’s time we reflect with clear eyes and an open mind.  In the last ten years of Nebraska football, there has been only one running back to break the 1000 yard mark, and that came in Scott Frost’s…

After weeks of inadequate play on the offensive side of the ball, Matt Rhule and the Huskers have brought in a new set of eyes in former longtime head coach Dana Holgorsen.  Holgorsen is introduced to the Nebraska program as an offensive consultant, but the true nature of his role on the coaching staff is unknown. The vast majority of scrutiny during this season has been directed toward offensive coordinator Marcus Satterfield and his play calling. The question fans have is whether or not Holgorsen will have a hand in that department for the remaining three games of the season.…

Another loss and another failed attempt at getting to a bowl game. In head coach Matt Rhule’s first 5 games played in the month of November, his overall record sits at 0-5. Nebraska had its troubles even before Rhule’s time, but the hope, as is the same for every new head coach, was that he would be the one to rid the Huskers of the dishevelment. It’s not called a rebuild for no reason, but the sentiment about this team, the culture, and the program as a whole, was that maybe it would be quicker than what Matt Rhule achieved…