Dannen

[Pennsyhuskers]

So Dannen just said that how many wins and losses we have in 2026 is important, but not as important as the question of whether we are “moving forward”.
Bullshite. That is the same crap we have been hearing now for 11 years. In the era of NIL and the portal there is no excuse for fielding a 6-6 or 7-5 team in year four of Rhule. In this year’s portal we did not get a single top 100 portal player. And the preseason all B1G team has 1 Husker (Jacory) and even that is not first team.
We lack talent. Period. And Rhule has failed to bring championship caliber talent to Lincoln.
The time to win is now. You are as good as your record says you are. Dannen sounds like a typical AD spinmeister already making excuses for what I guess he fears is going to be a rough year in terms of wins and losses.

 

[OctavianDillard]

Dannen … pfff

 

[OxfordComma]

We typically get recruiting classes that are ranked 20 something. Yet it’s been a long time since the team’s overall talent/depth was top 20 something. The real problem is player development. Riley, Frost and Rhule staffs have been remarkably bad at it, and it shows on gameday.

Just look at Rhule. All this coaching turnover is a result of making really bad hires. And then he compounds the problem by not giving them any help (McGuire), creates a toxic work environment (Phil Snow’s presence), won’t reward a productive coach that’s not his buddy (Ekeler), keeps a really bad coach (Raiola), keeps a RB coach that’s allergic to recruiting (Barthell), recycles failed coaches (Satterfield). What is completely lacking from Rhule is some high standard that he wants to hold his coaching staff accountable to. Just keep doing what you’re doing and everything is fine. All his coaches know he’s not going to fire them. That takes pressure from the AD, the head coach won’t rock the boat.

 

[davecisar]

We typically get recruiting classes that are ranked 20 something. Yet it’s been a long time since the team’s overall talent/depth was top 20 something. The real problem is player development. Riley, Frost and Rhule staffs have been remarkably bad at it, and it shows on gameday.

Just look at Rhule. All this coaching turnover is a result of making really bad hires. And then he compounds the problem by not giving them any help (McGuire), creates a toxic work environment (Phil Snow’s presence), won’t reward a productive coach that’s not his buddy (Ekeler), keeps a really bad coach (Raiola), keeps a RB coach that’s allergic to recruiting (Barthell), recycles failed coaches (Satterfield). What is completely lacking from Rhule is some high standard that he wants to hold his coaching staff accountable to. Just keep doing what you’re doing and everything is fine. All his coaches know he’s not going to fire them. That takes pressure from the AD, the head coach won’t rock the boat.

Great take- facts. It’s a systemic issue not solved by money, players, luck or time.

 

[OctavianDillard]

My guess is Rhule is seen as a clown in the biz. He talks a good game in front of the camera, makes his appearances at events, does his best to sell, but a guy that doesn’t really have a game plan and not someone who should be steering the boat. He will never be accused of out-coaching anybody.

 

[goldencohusker]

Even AI thinks Dannen is full of cr@p

 

[Baxter48]

So Dannen just said that how many wins and losses we have in 2026 is important, but not as important as the question of whether we are “moving forward”.
Bullshite. That is the same crap we have been hearing now for 11 years. In the era of NIL and the portal there is no excuse for fielding a 6-6 or 7-5 team in year four of Rhule. In this year’s portal we did not get a single top 100 portal player. And the preseason all B1G team has 1 Husker (Jacory) and even that is not first team.
We lack talent. Period. And Rhule has failed to bring championship caliber talent to Lincoln.
The time to win is now. You are as good as your record says you are. Dannen sounds like a typical AD spinmeister already making excuses for what I guess he fears is going to be a rough year in terms of wins and losses.

He joins the list of another bad ad hire by nebraska

 

[dinglefritz]

He joins the list of another bad ad hire by nebraska

His previous record as an AD was actually pretty good. Maybe it’s us (or our boosters) that makes ADs make bad decisions in Lincoln?

 

[OxfordComma]

His previous record as an AD was actually pretty good. Maybe it’s us (or our boosters) that makes ADs make bad decisions in Lincoln?

Totally on you, man.

 

[HuskerO58]

Great take- facts. It’s a systemic issue not solved by money, players, luck or time.

This completely contradicts what you've been saying in a different thread.

 

[BugsAreQualityProtein]

Why try to win when you’re making millions hand over fist anyway? There is zero incentive for NU to sink millions into a roster in an attempt to become nationally relevant again or let alone competitive. The current CFB, pay for play landscape doesn’t help matters either.

 

[HuskerBruce81]

We typically get recruiting classes that are ranked 20 something. Yet it’s been a long time since the team’s overall talent/depth was top 20 something. The real problem is player development. Riley, Frost and Rhule staffs have been remarkably bad at it, and it shows on gameday.

Just look at Rhule. All this coaching turnover is a result of making really bad hires. And then he compounds the problem by not giving them any help (McGuire), creates a toxic work environment (Phil Snow’s presence), won’t reward a productive coach that’s not his buddy (Ekeler), keeps a really bad coach (Raiola), keeps a RB coach that’s allergic to recruiting (Barthell), recycles failed coaches (Satterfield). What is completely lacking from Rhule is some high standard that he wants to hold his coaching staff accountable to. Just keep doing what you’re doing and everything is fine. All his coaches know he’s not going to fire them. That takes pressure from the AD, the head coach won’t rock the boat.

https://247sports.com/season/2025-football/collegeteamtalentcomposite/

it's a coaching issue

 

[orclover11]

His previous record as an AD was actually pretty good. Maybe it’s us (or our boosters) that makes ADs make bad decisions in Lincoln?

As far as I can tell the only "good thing" he did was to hire Fritz at Tulane. In hindsight, Tulane has been really good without Fritz, so maybe they are just in a perfect region to gather talent and steamroll a weak conference. He low-balled the future coach of Alabama, not that anything would have kept Deboer at Washington. He then hired Fisch...that looks like a meh hire relative to Deboer. He was only at Washington for like a year. Hard to judge his work at N-Iowa in the same light as a power 4 conference because stability is valued in those places and coaches stick around through multiple ADs.

One thing we know is true is he is unpopular with fans due to his reseating policies, NIL stuff has been a mess with the program being the first team to be caught being "careless" about NIL deals, and he gave an extension which wasn't deserved, warranted, or envied and is universally(outside of Rhule's team)viewed as idiotic.

And he isn't charismatic, interesting, has no ties to NU, was merely a journalism major...so just overall a dud. He looks to be positioning himself for his next job. We all worked with bosses who were on their way out and started creating "legacy" systems that they could put on a resume. I am assuming the reseating "policy" is his way of proving to the next school that he can make the "tough" decisions to raise money. Of course he could just put a great product on the field, but that seems way beyond his capability.

He is already fired, along with Rhule. Just when is the question.

 

[dinglefritz]

As far as I can tell the only "good thing" he did was to hire Fritz at Tulane. In hindsight, Tulane has been really good without Fritz, so maybe they are just in a perfect region to gather talent and steamroll a weak conference. He low-balled the future coach of Alabama, not that anything would have kept Deboer at Washington. He then hired Fisch...that looks like a meh hire relative to Deboer. He was only at Washington for like a year. Hard to judge his work at N-Iowa in the same light as a power 4 conference because stability is valued in those places and coaches stick around through multiple ADs.

One thing we know is true is he is unpopular with fans due to his reseating policies, NIL stuff has been a mess with the program being the first team to be caught being "careless" about NIL deals, and he gave an extension which wasn't deserved, warranted, or envied and is universally(outside of Rhule's team)viewed as idiotic.

And he isn't charismatic, interesting, has no ties to NU, was merely a journalism major...so just overall a dud. He looks to be positioning himself for his next job. We all worked with bosses who were on their way out and started creating "legacy" systems that they could put on a resume. I am assuming the reseating "policy" is his way of proving to the next school that he can make the "tough" decisions to raise money. Of course he could just put a great product on the field, but that seems way beyond his capability.

He is already fired, along with Rhule. Just when is the question.

Have you read the recent story on DeBoer’s personal life? No idea how factual it is.

 

[RBigredMax1]

Have you read the recent story on DeBoer’s personal life? No idea how factual it is.

 

[Baxter48]

His previous record as an AD was actually pretty good. Maybe it’s us (or our boosters) that makes ADs make bad decisions in Lincoln?

Do you think TO held the boosters in check?

 

[Big bo fan]

He joins the list of another bad ad hire by nebraska

Check his record as aAD ?

 

[dinglefritz]

Do you think TO held the boosters in check?

Nope. Boosters are why Tom hired Bo. Frank told him not to do it.

 

[Big bo fan]

His previous record as an AD was actually pretty good. Maybe it’s us (or our boosters) that makes ADs make bad decisions in Lincoln?

It could be but anyone who thinks Troy was a bad higher at the time is clueless.

 

[Spinner4]

So Dannen just said that how many wins and losses we have in 2026 is important, but not as important as the question of whether we are “moving forward”.

a donor saying “it’s not important if I donate money, what’s important is are we moving forward”

 

[Claud-Henry Smoot]

Didn't the athletic dept just have one of its most successful seasons ever ?

 

[Scoop123]

I don't know if Dannen is a good AD or not - and I don't know if his track record is awesome or not.

Here's what I do know. The 2-year extension tied him at the hip to Rhule and now he is no longer objective on Rhule's performance. If Rhule fails and is ran out of town, people will be pissed once again at the stupid (undeserved) extension. Danen knows this. His career NEEDS Rhule to make it IMO.


It's too bad. I like having an AD who can be objective about the football coach. Danen is no longer that guy and it sucks. Now they're both trying to save their own butt together. THAT is why the bar has been lowered.

 

[orclover11]

Didn't the athletic dept just have one of its most successful seasons ever ?

No, Athletic departments are college football teams with parasites. The volleyball and basketball teams can turn a profit, but it is an order of magnitude less than the football team. Without the football program making so much, the other programs will be done away with basketball and volleyball being the last to go. So it is kind of weird...winning in volleyball is pretty fun, winning in basketball would have been cool, but nowhere near as awesome as winning in football. You win in football your national brand explodes, your school enrollment explodes, and the money and talent flows in.

 

[OxfordComma]

Nope. Boosters are why Tom hired Bo. Frank told him not to do it.

We haven’t hired anybody better since.

 

[orclover11]

a donor saying “it’s not important if I donate money, what’s important is are we moving forward”

Boosters aren't like a board of investors. They are donating money to feel like they have some power and control over their beloved Huskers. This means they will want their preferences met more so than winning everything. They might want the stadium to look a certain way, they might want a certain type of coach, to have the university represented in a certain way, and they might not prioritize winning to the max.

Rhule has fooled a lot of people over the years. He might have figured out the big donors and he could be continually meeting with them, sharing inside info, and doing his preacher routine on them. They in turn could be going to Dannen and saying they like Rhule. You have to give it to Matt. He has made about as much money as one could imagine for doing almost nothing of substance in the sport.

He is 66-62 as a college coach, 2-25 against top 25 teams. He has made 30 million as a head coach and has 40 million to go. He will make nearly 70 million in his career and likely only have two wins against top 25 teams in more than 10 years of service. So there has to be something going on behind the scenes.

 

[Pennsyhuskers]

For the record, I think he is a good AD. I just did not like the comment that downplayed wins and losses this season as a metric for where we are as a program.
But in the big picture, not a big deal. This is just the kind of shite AD’s say. But I do wish he hadn’t said it. I think it sends a bad message. He doesn’t have to go all crazy town either, insisting we need to win at least 8 games or heads will roll. But a calm and measured insistence on excellence and winning games would be my preference.

But I also hope that behind the scenes he is telling Rhule it is time to start winning or else the donor base is going to dry up and fan support will continue to crater.

 

[goldencohusker]

For the record, I think he is a good AD. I just did not like the comment that downplayed wins and losses this season as a metric for where we are as a program.
But in the big picture, not a big deal. This is just the kind of shite AD’s say. But I do wish he hadn’t said it. I think it sends a bad message. He doesn’t have to go all crazy town either, insisting we need to win at least 8 games or heads will roll. But a calm and measured insistence on excellence and winning games would be my preference.

But I also hope that behind the scenes he is telling Rhule it is time to start winning or else the donor base is going to dry up and fan support will continue to crater.

His comments come across tone deaf to a fan base that was pitched that Rhule was hired as a developer and program builder, yet enters year 4 on his 3rd defensive and 2nd offensive coordinators, reliant on the portal to fill many key roster spots as development has lagged, has not moved the meter in terms of our relevance in the BG10 conference just like his predecessors, and like them, has been extended while delivering results that are widely perceived as below expectations. Surely, he has to be aware that NU fans have watched the same things happen repeatedly in the past while being pitched similar messages only to have the outcome be failure and starting over with a new coach. I don't know what the right message is, but he's paid enough to think of something better to say to a weary fanbase that keeps getting feed the same basic narrative.

 

[Nuts McClanahan]

https://247sports.com/season/2025-football/collegeteamtalentcomposite/

it's a coaching issue

Recruiting rankings can be misleading. Recruiting rankings can be way off outside of the high character stud athletes of which we hardly ever get. Secondly, rankings should be tiered. There's very little difference in talent between Nebraska and Utah at 44. We saw that in the bowl game. Nobody watched that game and said Nebraska obviously has better talent, but Utah is so much better coached. Same with Minnesota and Iowa.

 

[Nuts McClanahan]

Nope. Boosters are why Tom hired Bo. Frank told him not to do it.

LOL. Were you in the room? There's a lot of blowhards in the booster ranks.

 

[Nuts McClanahan]

Didn't the athletic dept just have one of its most successful seasons ever ?

Dannon had as much to do with the success of volleyball, men's basketball and softball as you and I did.

 

[Nuts McClanahan]

So it is kind of weird...winning in volleyball is pretty fun, winning in basketball would have been cool, but nowhere near as awesome as winning in football.

For years I've believed this statement and I pitied the KU fans who always focused on basketball season. But this year was pretty damn fun. Your statement is still correct but if men's basketball can maintain it's current level of success, volleyball and men's basketball is a great consolation prize.

 

[dinglefritz]

LOL. Were you in the room? There's a lot of blowhards in the booster ranks.

A family member who did work for the athletic department starting in the 80s is friends with Frank and his wife. My brother was friends with Pat Clare. Believe what you want. I’m a nobody but I know people who were very connected. Lincoln in a lot of ways is a small town.

 

[orclover11]

Recruiting rankings can be misleading. Recruiting rankings can be way off outside of the high character stud athletes of which we hardly ever get. Secondly, rankings should be tiered. There's very little difference in talent between Nebraska and Utah at 44. We saw that in the bowl game. Nobody watched that game and said Nebraska obviously has better talent, but Utah is so much better coached. Same with Minnesota and Iowa.

Nebraska is no better than Minnesota, Iowa etc at bringing in the top 100 players. These are the ones most likely to succeed and have the most evaluation time. The difference between the 335th best player and the 1200th best player is non-existent.

 

[Macho Man]

Dannen will be fired when potato head Rhule is fired. Hopefully after this year.

 

[Zeke Husker]

I don’t even pay attention to the recruiting or portal rankings anymore….. we spent a lot of time being listed higher up on those yet the positive results never came out of it.

 

[dinglefritz]

Dannen will be fired when potato head Rhule is fired. Hopefully after this year.

Then who ya got?

 

[Macho Man]

Then who ya got?

A better and smarter coach than potato head And an AD that won’t make the dumbest contract extension in the history of the sport. Shouldn’t be hard to find lol

 

[K Rod]

Dannen strikes me as a low effort, low IQ guy. Simply looking at the roster, we do have more depth. And the O line and DC hires might help us a lot. How good or poor the new QB1 is will determine how far we can go. We beat Iowa, knock off one rated team and do not implode in the last 1/3 of the season and I am ok with things. Thats not asking much at a school with the resources and facilities we have, we could be 5-7 to 8-4 depending on how far we slide backward on ST and injuries.

 

[dinglefritz]

A better and smarter coach than potato head And an AD that won’t make the dumbest contract extension in the history of the sport. Shouldn’t be hard to find lol

Give us the names. It’s really easy to want people fired. It’s a lot tougher to offer alternatives intelligently. We heard all kinds of names to replace Bill Callahan. NONE of the guys mentioned on the RSS or Huskers Illustrated succeeded after that in their next job. Not one of them.

 

[Macho Man]

Give us the names. It’s really easy to want people fired. It’s a lot tougher to offer alternatives intelligently. We heard all kinds of names to replace Bill Callahan. NONE of the guys mentioned on the RSS or Huskers Illustrated succeeded after that in their next job. Not one of them.

And potato head Rhule will NEVER succeed here or anywhere. Also, there’s these guys called Athletic Directors. See they’re the ones that hire the coaches not us fans. What has happened THOUSANDS of times is schools hire a competent AD and they hire a competent coach who then hire competent assistant coaches. We’ve failed miserably at this for this for 28 years.