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 at his previous stops in Temple and Baylor. Everyone is familiar with what Rhule was able to do during those stints, but is the Nebraska fan base failing to recognize what his first two years at those schools were composed of? It wasn’t all rainbows and butterflies. It was during his third years that Rhule’s vision started taking place; that his culture developed roots.
Despite that, falling behind 20-7 against a UCLA team that came into the game with a 2-5 record is disappointing to the highest degree. The Bruins offense wore the leather off of the ball for much of the first half, and at the end of the first quarter, Nebraska’s offense had only ran three plays. The Blackshirts defense allowed UCLA quarterback Ethan Garbers to break free on two separate, back breaking scrambles. Entering the game, Garbers ability to run the ball was something to take note of, and allowing those plays to happen with seemingly nobody assigned as a quarterback spy was confusing at the very least.
By no means was this performance equal to the Indiana game a few weeks back, but the general feel about the program is neighboring the same level. Last week, it was offensive coordinator Marus Satterfield’s head that fans were coming for. Now, there are fans who have added Matt Rhule to that list. It’s not easy to find the silver linings when that’s what Nebraska fans have been asked to do for nearly a decade, but maybe a compromise could be made to meet somewhere in the middle. That should include stopping the nonsense that is asking for the firing of Matt Rhule.
Nebraska fans are insufferable, myself included.
Freshman quarterback Dylan Raiola’s struggles continued into the start of the game against UCLA. The Bruins pass rush consistently harassed the young quarterback each time he dropped back to throw. Raiola could not locate the open man, but mostly there wasn’t one to find. As the game progressed, Raiola did seem to find a steady groove, finally throwing his first touchdown pass since September 28th against Purdue. Unfortunately, he left the game in the fourth quarter with an apparent back injury before Heirich Haarberg entered the game and got the Huskers into the endzone, cutting the lead to a one score game.
While Nebraska got the ball back with 2:22 left in the fourth quarter, the offense fell short. Haarberg took a shot down the sideline to freshman wide receiver Jacorey Barney Jr. that resulted in the second thrown Nebraska interception of the night, sealing the game for the Bruins.
The outlook for the rest of the season seems bleak, and there is certainly less to play for than what maybe the ceiling had to offer in late September, but you get the chicken by hatching the egg, not by smashing it. That is something for fans to ponder. The show goes on, and who knows, maybe in a year or two’s time we’ll look back and laugh at the hiccup against UCLA.
