Rhule hasn’t lost the team

Neb79

Junior
Dec 1, 2024
339
386
58
If there is one thing that this lack of portal entries has told us, it is that Rhule clearly hasn’t lost the trust of the team. Even with Raiola at QB leaving, we haven’t had hardly anyone else leave. Are they waiting for the weekend to declare? I’m sure we will have more names trickle out but the fact that there wasn’t an immediate exodus when the portal ended is a statement. I know all of us think we know better than these kids because we are older and know “the world” but clearly the core of the team still believes in the progress being made. Right or wrong, we shall see.
 

Bigred2467

All-Conference
Jul 4, 2025
1,209
1,742
113
If there is one thing that this lack of portal entries has told us, it is that Rhule clearly hasn’t lost the trust of the team. Even with Raiola at QB leaving, we haven’t had hardly anyone else leave. Are they waiting for the weekend to declare? I’m sure we will have more names trickle out but the fact that there wasn’t an immediate exodus when the portal ended is a statement. I know all of us think we know better than these kids because we are older and know “the world” but clearly the core of the team still believes in the progress being made. Right or wrong, we shall see.
Or maybe they're not leaving because we're paying them more money than they could get anywhere else?
 

BobVH5150

Junior
Jul 9, 2025
218
334
63
If there is one thing that this lack of portal entries has told us, it is that Rhule clearly hasn’t lost the trust of the team. Even with Raiola at QB leaving, we haven’t had hardly anyone else leave. Are they waiting for the weekend to declare? I’m sure we will have more names trickle out but the fact that there wasn’t an immediate exodus when the portal ended is a statement. I know all of us think we know better than these kids because we are older and know “the world” but clearly the core of the team still believes in the progress being made. Right or wrong, we shall see.
What it tells me is that outside of N. Hunter, I don't feel like we have any players that could go to a top 25 team and start. Nweri could be a rotational player, but outside of that? Any school if they are smart is prioritizing immediate impact over potential, as everyone is now a year to year rental. You are correct in that the kids do like Coach Rhule, but the question is how that translates to competitiveness going forward.
 

Im4NUalways2

Junior
Nov 6, 2023
234
227
43
If there is one thing that this lack of portal entries has told us, it is that Rhule clearly hasn’t lost the trust of the team. Even with Raiola at QB leaving, we haven’t had hardly anyone else leave. Are they waiting for the weekend to declare? I’m sure we will have more names trickle out but the fact that there wasn’t an immediate exodus when the portal ended is a statement. I know all of us think we know better than these kids because we are older and know “the world” but clearly the core of the team still believes in the progress being made. Right or wrong, we shall see.
We have a couple of guys we need to keep probably. The issue is as fans and media we dont see a huge majority of the roster in action. Ever.

Could we have some younger players that will be great? Maybe but they need better coaching/development.

Because they are not leaving doesn't mean anything.

We have a very off balance roster. A huge majority of players in 2 classes. That has to be fixed. Some will have to go at some point. Its a mess quite frankly. That is not how a.roster should look. Can it be fixed? Sure. Can Rhule do it and win? Who knows but we have zero evidence currently he can.

He is by default and extention stupidity, going to get 2 years more to do it most likely. We will be 500 or less next year. Prepare for it.

Will the sunshine pumping 2027 class going to hold together after a 500 or sub 500 season in 2026? Time will tell.
 

orclover11

Senior
Dec 1, 2014
1,241
904
113
A whole team full of alphas isn’t going to accept playing for someone they don’t respect simply for cash.
They aren't a team full of alphas. Just because somebody is a good athlete doesn't make them an alpha. Guys are college football players because of absolutely freakish athletic ability layered on top of unique body dimensions. A LOT of football players are mental midgets, and do not care about winning for Nebraska or themselves. They want the bag, they want the attention of being a college football player, they don't care about winning. All that Rhule has to tell them is I will pay you more and give you a better chance at the league. Winning and losing for Nebraska doesn't matter.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Anon690994

itseasyas1-2-3

All-Conference
Sep 6, 2021
9,805
2,137
113
If there is one thing that this lack of portal entries has told us, it is that Rhule clearly hasn’t lost the trust of the team. Even with Raiola at QB leaving, we haven’t had hardly anyone else leave. Are they waiting for the weekend to declare? I’m sure we will have more names trickle out but the fact that there wasn’t an immediate exodus when the portal ended is a statement. I know all of us think we know better than these kids because we are older and know “the world” but clearly the core of the team still believes in the progress being made. Right or wrong, we shall see.
NU has just had 19 kids exhaust their eligibility, then you include the 7 who sat out or were injured and didn't play in the bowl blowout, that's 25% of the overall team, hence, the "core" has left. What is left over with the exception of Hunter, Pritchett, Evans and Lindenburg on offense, and Nwarmi, Davis, Lenhardt, Shavers, Jones, Guthrie, Marshall and maybe a couple others. By NU standards, good players but hardly any stars among them.

It appears a large number of players have re-signed contracts. Not a surprise. If you're a marginal player and get some cash along the way, you probably stay since there's no open market value attached to you. Kids stay for a variety of reasons but that doesn't make them quality BIG players. Re-signing a bunch of marginal players is a good way to continue to get your a*s kicked on a regular basis in an ever challenging football scenario. This doesn't even include that small high school class coming in and how much they had to pay for their services.

After retaining, an likely overpaying many of the same kids is a good way to deplete the money available to sign kids who might actually be good BIG players. Looks like Stewart doesn't have a clue either.
 

QAnon399535

Junior
Nov 27, 2025
269
263
53
If there is one thing that this lack of portal entries has told us, it is that Rhule clearly hasn’t lost the trust of the team. Even with Raiola at QB leaving, we haven’t had hardly anyone else leave. Are they waiting for the weekend to declare? I’m sure we will have more names trickle out but the fact that there wasn’t an immediate exodus when the portal ended is a statement. I know all of us think we know better than these kids because we are older and know “the world” but clearly the core of the team still believes in the progress being made. Right or wrong, we shall see.
Great thinking as well! It takes 7 years to build a winner. He needs more time like Fred. Impossible to to it in 3 years
 

HuskerO58

All-Conference
Sep 11, 2006
14,181
2,371
113
Of the 41 players Rhule has brought in and who later transferred, only 8 went to another P4 program

This is why you don’t see players leaving
Again, I think the number is 13.

Jeff Sims (ASU)
Malachi Coleman (Minn)
Princewill Umanmielen (Ole Miss)
Jaidyn Doss (KU)
Jaylen Lloyd (Okie St)
Daniel Kaelin (Virginia)
Ian Flynt (NC St)
Dante Dowdell (Kentucky)
Stefon Thompson (FSU)
Xander Ruggeroli (ASU)
James Williams (FSU)

Technically Hardley Gilmore (Kentucky to N back to Kentucky) and Chief Borders (Pitt until he left there for someone else after a few short months).
 

ADV88

Senior
Oct 26, 2018
1,869
405
83
We have a very off balance roster. A huge majority of players in 2 classes. That has to be fixed. Some will have to go at some point. Its a mess quite frankly. That is not how a.roster should look. Can it be fixed? Sure. Can Rhule do it and win? Who knows but we have zero evidence currently he can.

If one decides to put all eggs in one basket (underclassmen) then they need to ensure that they have the right staff developing those players which goes back to making the right choices from the get go... again, I'm pleased he's making those changes now but at what cost?

The OL is the easiest and most glaring example... the entire country could see it wasn't working going back to Frost and yet we stayed with the guy... all those players struggled to get better... had they had a competent OL Coach who could actually teach and grow these dudes I'm positive we'd have 2 more wins this year minimum... Raiola wouldn't be hurt and might actually have been able to make some more plays instead of running for his life...
 
  • Like
Reactions: Im4NUalways2

Pennsyhuskers

All-Conference
Jun 3, 2022
644
1,929
93
Who cares if he hasn't lost the team? His teams suck. Tired of making excuses for Nebraska's total descent into awfulness. So he has the loyalty of his players? Big deal. Maybe he should think about winning games. Watching Indiana systematically dismantle Alabama made me want to puke. That is what a great coach can do. Rhule has the loyalty of his players and so all is ok? Not.
 

Spectrumalaska

All-Conference
Oct 6, 2012
3,106
1,069
113
Who cares if he hasn't lost the team? His teams suck. Tired of making excuses for Nebraska's total descent into awfulness. So he has the loyalty of his players? Big deal. Maybe he should think about winning games. Watching Indiana systematically dismantle Alabama made me want to puke. That is what a great coach can do. Rhule has the loyalty of his players and so all is ok? Not.
So true.

Loved the Alabama beatdown. Reminded me of 38-6 back in 1972. A trip down memory lane for us old senile fuhks. I was 11, seems like yesterday 😊
 

dinglefritz

Heisman
Jan 14, 2011
51,713
13,180
78
Of the 41 players Rhule has brought in and who later transferred, only 8 went to another P4 program

This is why you don’t see players leaving
Over 20 of those guys were last minutes reaches to try to fill holes in the roster. He’s doing exactly what everybody wanted by processing non-contributors. Do you think other P4 teams are going to want our non-contributors?
 
  • Like
Reactions: OldOzzyLvr

Cruel Halo

All-Conference
Jun 27, 2003
6,636
1,763
97
Who cares if he hasn't lost the team? His teams suck. Tired of making excuses for Nebraska's total descent into awfulness. So he has the loyalty of his players? Big deal. Maybe he should think about winning games. Watching Indiana systematically dismantle Alabama made me want to puke. That is what a great coach can do. Rhule has the loyalty of his players and so all is ok? Not.

Mediocre coaches - coaching mediocre players - resulting in a mediocre results.
 
Jun 7, 2017
1,936
998
113
A whole team full of alphas isn’t going to accept playing for someone they don’t respect simply for cash.
A team of alphas doesn't get outscored
121-48 over the final 3 games of the season or have a losing conference record.

Teams full of alphas also beat ranked teams and rarely get blown out. Teams full of alphas bring to he fight.
 

Kakdawg

Heisman
Sep 8, 2004
35,404
15,560
113
Who cares if he hasn't lost the team? His teams suck. Tired of making excuses for Nebraska's total descent into awfulness. So he has the loyalty of his players? Big deal. Maybe he should think about winning games. Watching Indiana systematically dismantle Alabama made me want to puke. That is what a great coach can do. Rhule has the loyalty of his players and so all is ok? Not.

Not gonna lie I can't be a hypocrite. We used to hear the same thing about frost. "Well he hasn't lost the team and they are still playing hard for him". To which my reply would be WHO EFFIN CARES! You don't keep a guy just cause he hasn't lost the team. That's the minimum. It's like playing hard. That should be a given.

Now I'm not trying to say this is near as bad as it was with Frost. But I didn't buy that logic then so I won't buy it now. Him NOT losing the team means jack if they don't play better, sign better players and coaches and win more games. Gotta laugh at the logic sometimes about reasons to not fire someone.

AlMost reminds me of the "we are gonna be so much more experienced" takes our fans have sometimes (OL for example). Experience is great when the players are good. But when their not u just have a bunch of bad old guys lol.



HOLLA
 
  • Like
Reactions: Pennsyhuskers

orclover11

Senior
Dec 1, 2014
1,241
904
113
A team that plays well for a maximum of two possessions doesn’t seem like a team willing to run through a brick wall.
The modern player is very different. They will like a coach if the coach makes them feel comfortable, if they never feel challenged or minimized. If the coach makes them feel important and that the coach can make them a lot of money, they will like the guy. Liking a coach does not equate to playing hard ever, or giving their all. It just means that when they are uncomfortable or sad they can turn to coach and he will make them feel better. Players play hard because of hate, anger, playing for their teammates, proving their coaches and naysayers wrong, earning a position, a purpose on the team. Rhule brings maximum positivity, keeps everybody happy. Whether you lose by 30 or win by a few the checks will keep coming, and the players are happy. I guarantee if you asked a lot of players, they think we should prioritize their happiness and well-being over everything else, that is the purpose of fans, after we pay the bill. I actually wouldn't be surprised if we started to see players opt-out from the playoffs. Losing might make some of them feel sad, and they could just end the season and go home with their millions and not have to worry about the prospect of failure and looking bad on national t.v.
 
Last edited:

Sparkaddict

Redshirt
Oct 7, 2023
5
7
3
No school looks at this roster and is super excited about any one player. That’s why no one’s leaving.