What Did We Learn - Bowl Edition

[JJ Husker]

That's fine. But then, don't b itch and moan if Rhule loses 4 or 5 games in '26 and '27. I don't want to hear anything from you then. You can't have it both ways.

Have you seen our 2026 schedule?

Nebraska, with or without Rhule, is going to lose at least 4-5 games in ‘26 barring a miracle.

Near as I can tell, before any potential program changing portal additions, we are in complete rebuild mode. Many new coaches and, really, not a single game changer player returning. If this roster was a game of 5 card draw, I’d be tossing them all and getting 5 new cards. Ironically but understandably our DC got fired for saying that out loud.

Is that all Rhule’s fault? Yeah, pretty much. But he’s also made some positive changes and seems intent to get it right. He hasn’t been shy to replace obviously underperforming coaches and, imo, has gotten about all he could out of the players we have. Just need to get better players in and hope the new coaches are improvements. Starting from square one with a new HC hasn’t worked for us since TO retired.

 

[Street Novelist]

Have you seen our 2026 schedule?

Nebraska, with or without Rhule, is going to lose at least 4-5 games in ‘26 barring a miracle.

Near as I can tell, before any potential program changing portal additions, we are in complete rebuild mode. Many new coaches and, really, not a single game changer player returning. If this roster was a game of 5 card draw, I’d be tossing them all and getting 5 new cards. Ironically but understandably our DC got fired for saying that out loud.

Is that all Rhule’s fault? Yeah, pretty much. But he’s also made some positive changes and seems intent to get it right. He hasn’t been shy to replace obviously underperforming coaches and, imo, has gotten about all he could out of the players we have. Just need to get better players in and hope the new coaches are improvements. Starting from square one with a new HC hasn’t worked for us since TO retired.

You're missing the point. He s hit all over the idea of hiring a successful coach at the FCS level, saying it didn't work out at Kansas State. He would rather keep Rhule. That's fine, but then he can't b itch and cry like a baby if Rhule continues to lose 4-5 games a season, EVEN THOUGH SOME OF US ADVOCATED FIRING HIM NOW. You can't have it both ways. Don't want to take a chance on a successful FCS head coach, that's fine. But he needs to bite his tongue if his pick for Rhule staying doesn't pan out.

 

[krc1995]

I knew they wouldn't win. I was in Vegas for Christmas, so I was able to go.

I thought Utah fans outnumbered Nebraska fans, but it was hard to tell with similar color schemes.

 

[JJ Husker]

You're missing the point. He s hit all over the idea of hiring a successful coach at the FCS level, saying it didn't work out at Kansas State. He would rather keep Rhule. That's fine, but then he can't b itch and cry like a baby if Rhule continues to lose 4-5 games a season, EVEN THOUGH SOME OF US ADVOCATED FIRING HIM NOW. You can't have it both ways. Don't want to take a chance on a successful FCS head coach, that's fine. But he needs to bite his tongue if his pick for Rhule staying doesn't pan out.

Eh, I didn’t take what he said as s hitting all over the idea of a FCS coach. Basically all he said was you can’t count on that working out either. IMO there are no guarantees with any coaching hire and everyone is free to b!tch about whatever and whenever they want.

I just wish some people would give it a rest for awhile. Rhule ain’t going anywhere for quite some time. Maybe people could limit posting their dissatisfaction to only a few times in each thread they visit and then let it go, instead of doing it endlessly in every post and every thread for the next 10 months.

But it’s a free country…sort of.

 

[Street Novelist]

Eh, I didn’t take what he said as s hitting all over the idea of a FCS coach. Basically all he said was you can’t count on that working out either. IMO there are no guarantees with any coaching hire

Well, obviously. There are no guarantees in life either.

 

[lo country]

Just sucks getting blown at by PSU, then Iowa and the Utah....Didn't really feel like we competitive in any of those last 3 tbh. I know Rhule bristled at the reset, but going into year 4 I think it's naive to think this is still a rebuild. New DC, new OL coach, new DL coach (maybe?), new DE coach, new starting RB, new QB etc....

We are young, but where have we improved throughout the year in any position? Is there any guy on the roster now, who if they'd hit the portal that we'd be upset with? Hell, a lot of folks glad Dylan entered the portal. This team is in dire straights. So yea, these is a restart, rebuild, reset, whatever, but we are further away than I thought we'd be going into year 4. I'd swing for the fences on the portal. Spend this money he says we have. Don't get out bid for guys who can be the catalyst for change. I'm sure some folks are sick of Cig, but I loved this quote I heard today from him. "I look for productivity over potential"....This is what Rhule needs to focus on. Not the what "could be" potential, but the what "was he" productivity. Too many dudes on this roster with potential that has not been developed or was simply the old "wishing in one hand and sh!tting in the other and see which fills up first"...

 

[Jason Sitoke]

Because every other school is doing it, and coaches won't accept a lesser contract.

Rhule has the 15th highest 2025 salary and 15th highest buyout in the country. Given that we're not anywhere near the top 15 as a program, it would seem there are plenty of other coaches accepting contract values that are more in line with the production they provide. I would think with the mixed results (to put it kindly) he's produced, it wouldn't be blasphemous to let him come within a half-decade of the end of his contract without extending him.

 

[huskerfan74]

Just sucks getting blown at by PSU, then Iowa and the Utah....Didn't really feel like we competitive in any of those last 3 tbh. I know Rhule bristled at the reset, but going into year 4 I think it's naive to think this is still a rebuild. New DC, new OL coach, new DL coach (maybe?), new DE coach, new starting RB, new QB etc....

We are young, but where have we improved throughout the year in any position? Is there any guy on the roster now, who if they'd hit the portal that we'd be upset with? Hell, a lot of folks glad Dylan entered the portal. This team is in dire straights. So yea, these is a restart, rebuild, reset, whatever, but we are further away than I thought we'd be going into year 4. I'd swing for the fences on the portal. Spend this money he says we have. Don't get out bid for guys who can be the catalyst for change. I'm sure some folks are sick of Cig, but I loved this quote I heard today from him. "I look for productivity over potential"....This is what Rhule needs to focus on. Not the what "could be" potential, but the what "was he" productivity. Too many dudes on this roster with potential that has not been developed or was simply the old "wishing in one hand and sh!tting in the other and see which fills up first"...

lo country, you are the only moderator on this board who truly sees this team for what it is. We consistently out recruit other teams in the BIG and we get beaten by those teams. It comes down to player development and we have none. I see many 3 star QBs who have done more for their teams than our 5 star QB. So, is that on Dylan or our coaches. Bottom line, after Year 4, Rhule will have no one to blame but himself if we end up with another 6-6 or worst season. I am really hoping new coaches have some magic bullets or else it can get ugly very quickly.

 

[Mavric]

Just sucks getting blown at by PSU, then Iowa and the Utah....Didn't really feel like we competitive in any of those last 3 tbh. I know Rhule bristled at the reset, but going into year 4 I think it's naive to think this is still a rebuild. New DC, new OL coach, new DL coach (maybe?), new DE coach, new starting RB, new QB etc....

We are young, but where have we improved throughout the year in any position? Is there any guy on the roster now, who if they'd hit the portal that we'd be upset with? Hell, a lot of folks glad Dylan entered the portal. This team is in dire straights. So yea, these is a restart, rebuild, reset, whatever, but we are further away than I thought we'd be going into year 4. I'd swing for the fences on the portal. Spend this money he says we have. Don't get out bid for guys who can be the catalyst for change. I'm sure some folks are sick of Cig, but I loved this quote I heard today from him. "I look for productivity over potential"....This is what Rhule needs to focus on. Not the what "could be" potential, but the what "was he" productivity. Too many dudes on this roster with potential that has not been developed or was simply the old "wishing in one hand and sh!tting in the other and see which fills up first"...

It's kind of tough to say. The tendency when the results are lacking is to point to the good players and say they were just good (didn't have to be developed) and then look at the spots we were lacking and say we are developing.

EJ wasn't even offered by his hometown school. Seems like he got developed.
Jacory Barney was underused as a receiver but turned into a pretty good punt returner.
Speaking of returners, Kenneth Williams was a walk-on.
Quinn Clark seems to be coming along well (in limited action).
Luke Lindenmeyer kind of disappeared from the passing options in the second half of the season but contributed quite a bit for a walk-on.
Lutovsky and Evans weren't great but were solid contributors as guys who've been here for years.
Kade Pietrzak seemed to be able to contribute more as the season went along.
Ceyair Wright and Andrew Marshall haven't been here as long but seemed to be pretty solid contributors.

I'm sure some will argue with even that list. And I'm not saying we've been great in this area. But a lot of people try to act like there aren't any examples. And I don't think that's fair. I think most of those guys have out-performed their expectations from a couple of years ago.

 

[lo country]

It's kind of tough to say. The tendency when the results are lacking is to point to the good players and say they were just good (didn't have to be developed) and then look at the spots we were lacking and say we are developing.

EJ wasn't even offered by his hometown school. Seems like he got developed.
Jacory Barney was underused as a receiver but turned into a pretty good punt returner.
Speaking of returners, Kenneth Williams was a walk-on.
Quinn Clark seems to be coming along well (in limited action).
Luke Lindenmeyer kind of disappeared from the passing options in the second half of the season but contributed quite a bit for a walk-on.
Lutovsky and Evans weren't great but were solid contributors as guys who've been here for years.
Kade Pietrzak seemed to be able to contribute more as the season went along.
Ceyair Wright and Andrew Marshall haven't been here as long but seemed to be pretty solid contributors.

I'm sure some will argue with even that list. And I'm not saying we've been great in this area. But a lot of people try to act like there aren't any examples. And I don't think that's fair. I think most of those guys have out-performed their expectations from a couple of years ago.

Good stuff and examples. Small sample size, but appreicatedI'd add that EJ was gone last year if not for Dana, but he went from limited to use to AA. Win for NU. Really wish we'd find away to make the TE's a focal point of our passing game. That position has killed us more times than I can count.

I think Williams and Barney speak to what coaching can do with a guy like Ekeler. Ekeler just has "it". Whatever "it" is. Truly wish that Rhule would find a way to expand his roll with LB's. I'm sure this isn't feasible, but no doubting what he did with ST's...IIRC , one of our guys said that Aurich has that same Ekeler energy. I like it. That alone should improve the intensity and energy on that side of the ball.

I look back at Bo taking SJB, mid game and going from WR to DB. Or Cody Glenn to LB. These guys switched positions and excelled. I just don't see (non-scientific eye ball test) that guys have improved a lot from game 1-13 this season or under Rhule as a whole. Biased to a degree, as I am disappointed with the season and see a lot of 1/2 empty glasses.

 

[Undone]

@Mavric I think your list is good actually. What sticks out most is how almost everybody on it is on offense.

Thus, not too much of a surprise as to why we absolutely sucked on defense.

Three key players did leave via the portal (Jamari, Princewill, Gbayor) and that really hurt - but that’s always going to happen unless we really pioneer something great in the area of contracts with players.

 

[lo country]

@Mavric I think your list is good actually. What sticks out most is how almost everybody on it is on offense.

Thus, not too much of a surprise as to why we absolutely sucked on defense.

Three key players did leave via the portal (Jamari, Princewill, Gbayor) and that really hurt - but that’s always going to happen unless we really pioneer something great in the area of contracts with players.

Good observation. D staff has had a lot more attrition through hirings/firings/moves.

 

[Born N Bled Red]

Good observation. D staff has had a lot more attrition through hirings/firings/moves.

Saying Nash and Hut didn't improve at all in their time here?

 

[Bobby_Axelrod]

I'm sure some folks are sick of Cig, but I loved this quote I heard today from him. "I look for productivity over potential"....This is what Rhule needs to focus on. Not the what "could be" potential, but the what "was he" productivity. Too many dudes on this roster with potential that has not been developed or was simply the old "wishing in one hand and sh!tting in the other and see which fills up first"...

First off, you don't answer to anyone. My brother died on Omaha Beach so you'd have the right to speak your mind. Or maybe I'm making that up. But who cares, it's the internet.
Anyway, Cig is right. Productivity over potential in recruiting pays better dividends. The other part of the equation is character. If you're sitting in a living room and a helicopter parent starts telling you how much Auburn is willing to pay her son, AND, the no-show job the U is willing to give her, you have to walk away. Cuz team chemistry suffers when you assemble a bunch of prima donnas.
Don't believe me? Mendoza probably has more character than half the Alabama squad put together. Can I prove it? No.

But ...

 

[MLB 51]

Saying Nash and Hut didn't improve at all in their time here?

That's the same guy.