Matt Rhule in his postgame press conference after Iowa said it all fell on him, and if anyone was going to criticize, then criticize him, not his players. That won’ be hard to do. First off, I consider myself a fan, nothing else. Since the season ended I’ve heard multiple Nebraska media outlets ask the question, what was more important, coaches or talent. I’ve said it multiple times and have no problem saying it again. It’s by far and away coaching. Do I need to remind anyone that Tom Osborne never won less than 9 games in his twenty-five seasons as Nebraska’s head coach. How many of you will stand up and tell me he did it all with talent. Because I’ll quickly inform you that Osborne fielded more than one team that was less talented than their opponents. Also, if it isn’t coaching, tell me why Rhule just went 7-5 with the best running back in the Big Ten this season.
Let me repeat myself. I’ve seen hall of Fame coaches like Osborne find success on the field with less talented players. Mediocre talent even. I’ve also seen mediocre coaches put up losing records with far and away better talent than their opponents. It’s coaching, coaching, coaching. Which do you think Rhule has done a better job of. Recruiting and finding talent or hiring top-tier coaches? Look no further than Jacory Barney and Garrett McGuire to answer that question.
Hall of Fame coach Tom Osborne was a rarity, a coach who could identify a program’s needs, coaches, players, felt the heartbeat of the fans, and was an X’s and O’s savant. He had it all and pushed buttons and pulled levers as the Wizard of Oz behind a big red curtain. Let’s face it, that kind of talent rolls around once in a lifetime. Seldom if ever is it replaced. But, for at least fifteen years after his departure administration wallowed like hogs in their stupidity, forcing fans to endure their repeatedly poor choices. The ineptitude was amazing.
Then they hired Rhule the CEO, the statesman, the guy who was good behind the podium, sold himself, his beliefs, and his plans for making Nebraska football what we all remembered. He embraced our past, pointed toward our future, and spewed all the right words at the right time. He brought with him an impressive record for turning programs around. It wasn’t hard for Nebraska fans to admit things needed turned around. As fans, we were to the point of what the hell do we have to lose. We bought in and gave Rhule the keys to the bank.
So, let’s pick on Rhule some more. Then in his first three regular seasons he went 5-7, 6-6, and 7-5. For those of you keeping track, that’s a Mike Riley type record of 18-18. A 50% coach. Rhule’s teams have also collapsed in November, going 2-10. What makes it all worse it that Rhule sold us all on his big year three turnaround, and when that failed to happen, we started hearing terms like, “Snake oil salesman.”
So, where has Rhule failed? Simply put, he’s a great CEO, a great leader, knows football, but has some fatal flaws. Part of Rhule’s personality makes him weak. As a CEO he is constantly looking for the feel-good story.
“Aww, dang, look at this poor down and out little fella, nobody is giving him a chance.”
Examples? Promoting high school coaches and hiring first time coaches make great stories. But are they what’s best for Nebraska or what’s best for the CEO and his sell? Rhule did it at Baylor with hiring Joey McGuire, now the head coach of Texas Tech. It’s a great story. And because of that, Rhule continues to go down that path. At Nebraska, it’s been Bob Wager, Garret McGuire, Terrance Knighton, Rob Dvoacek, Terry Bradden, Phil Simpson, Jamar Mozee and John Butler. Rhule is always looking to give guys opportunities and sell a great story if it works out. But when it doesn’t work out, who suffers? It’s the Nebraska football program. I won’t call out players, but there are several examples of them too.
Many of Rhule’s hires are due to recruitment, and we’ve seen evidence of that working. Wager and McGuire were supposed to be Texas connections. Phil Simpson a Florida connection, and Mozee a Kansas City, St. Louis connection. It all proves my point. They are good recruiters who have brought in talent but don’t yet have the chops to know how to develop it. You can keep bringing in better talent, but at some point, development matters.
I’m not against giving a guy a chance but let them work their way up through the ranks. Many of these guys are first time position coaches and it shows. Nebraska fans and these players deserve better.
This team is too soft and it’s all due to Rhule’s personality, it’s all about salesman smiles, appearances on Pat McAfee, his House Rhule’s podcast, and feel-good stories. Before I go any further, let me say, I’m going to use multiple archaic football terms that people will say have no place in today’s game. Sorry, I don’t know any other way of putting it and it’s what Nebraska football is missing.
It’s time for Rhule to hire a blood and guts football coach. Rhule can talk toughness, contact in practice, or whatever he wants, but we haven’t seen him or anyone on this staff who can coach it. This team lacks physicality and the attitude that goes with it. Imagine it like this, it’s the military and Nebraska football and its facilities are a world class sniper rifle, every player on the team is ammo and the guy behind the sights is Rhule. You’re screwed, because he doesn’t have the bloodlust needed, he can’t pull the trigger, and that’s the guy Nebraska needs. Find that guy and let Rhule be his spotter.
Go back to the very basics. Forget technique, knuckles up, and first steps. Let’s find out who the football players are. Who is it that wants to hit, take heads off, be the hammer and not the nail. Who searches for contact and who shies away. In simple terms, lets separate the men from the boys and go from there.
There is currently no one on this team, players or coaches who fit that bill, if they do, they haven’t shown it to us, or we haven’t heard about it. Is there a coach or a player with the attitude of a Richie Incognito or a Ndamukong Suh. Whose coaching it or practicing it? It’s what’s missing. And I’ll go so far as to add this, whether it’s offense or defense, if your team isn’t being flagged for targeting once every one to two games, you aren’t playing physically enough.
Now listen to me. I’m not promoting targeting. I’m not saying take head shots. What I am saying is if you are playing football, looking to be the hammer and make hits and be the most physical team on the field, the targeting is just naturally going to happen. What no one wants to admit is if you are truly playing the game the way it’s meant to be played targeting is unavoidable. Accept it or take the pads off completely and start playing pass and tag. You are not going to penalize hitting and physicality out of football.
As a coach, I’d never get on a player for a targeting hit. He’s doing what I expect. I don’t care if it cost the team the game. Until physicality comes first over everything, even winning, Nebraska will never be the team we expect. The goal should be every team that plays Nebraska loses their next game because they are too beat to hell. And even if the Huskers go 0-12, at the end of the season there isn’t a team on the schedule who is willing to play them a second time. We need to see “Hell on Wheels,” rather than just hear a coach utter the phrase. We need eleven headhunters on the field every play. And when I say headhunter, I’m not suggesting shots to the head, I’m talking about shoulders to the chest that are so violent you’re surprised the guy’s head wasn’t separated from his body. Eleven violent car crashes every play.
So, listen up, CEO Rhule, you have the resources and the power to hire a guy that can bring that to your football team. Don’t create him or promote him, find him. If you want to be here after 2027, do what’s best for Nebraska and go get your headhunter.
GO BIG RED!!
Photo courtesy of The Falls City Journal
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