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Accountability (Media vs. Fans)

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Scoop123

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I have seen several posters on this board suggest loyal fans are to blame. After all, they keep buying tickets to a poor performing product and the University is happy as long as their pockets are full. (seems like a reasonable suggestion.) These posters suggest that if fans would dry up the money spigot this will rattle the University into better decision-making and or accountability. I’ve seen people argue about this on the board, and I have given a lot of thought to it. While I agree that theoretically it could work, I don’t see it ever happening. Too many generations of loyal Nebraska fans, my family included, simply will not let this happen. The free market wins. If one guy doesn’t wanna drop 70 bucks on a ticket in protest, the guy next to him will gladly spend it. I just don’t see it as a viable solution. Hope is eternal for diehards.

I have what I think is a better solution and seems like an easy one, although it certainly is not. I think a major culprit in Nebraska’s 20+ year struggles is a complicit media. I asked a week or two ago if anyone on here has seen or heard Dannen get asked about the extension for Rhule. Crickets.

I just saw on HuskerMax that Dannen gave another interview. I did not see the whole interview, but the recap mentioned nothing about the extension. It looks like the interview was done with Huskers.com so obviously this will be a softball, PR type interview. Where is anyone in the Nebraska media asking difficult questions? One of the key purposes of the media is to hold people in power accountable. That’s why it is the only profession named and protectedin the constitution that I am aware of.

I am now out of state and not very familiar with the local media other than what I read and listen to online. Am I reading this right? Do the Nebraska coaches and A.D.‘s get drilled by difficult questions or is it a lot of softballs that allows mediocrity to prevail, seemingly unchecked at times?
 
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RikeMiley

RikeMiley

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Scoop123 said:
I have seen several posters on this board suggest loyal fans are to blame. After all, they keep buying tickets to a poor performing product and the University is happy as long as their pockets are full. (seems like a reasonable suggestion.) These posters suggest that if fans would dry up the money spigot this will rattle the University into better decision-making and or accountability. I’ve seen people argue about this on the board, and I have given a lot of thought to it. While I agree that theoretically it could work, I don’t see it ever happening. Too many generations of loyal Nebraska fans, my family included, simply will not let this happen. The free market wins. If one guy doesn’t wanna drop 70 bucks on a ticket in protest, the guy next to him will gladly spend it. I just don’t see it as a viable solution. Hope is eternal for diehards.

I have what I think is a better solution and seems like an easy one, although it certainly is not. I think a major culprit in Nebraska’s 20+ year struggles is a complicit media. I asked a week or two ago if anyone on here has seen or heard Dannen get asked about the extension for Rhule. Crickets.

I just saw on HuskerMax that Dannen gave another interview. I did not see the whole interview, but the recap mentioned nothing about the extension. It looks like the interview was done with Huskers.com so obviously this will be a softball, PR type interview. Where is anyone in the Nebraska media asking difficult questions? One of the key purposes of the media is to hold people in power accountable. That’s why it is the only profession named and protectedin the constitution that I am aware of.

I am now out of state and not very familiar with the local media other than what I read and listen to online. Am I reading this right? Do the Nebraska coaches and A.D.‘s get drilled by difficult questions or is it a lot of softballs that allows mediocrity to prevail, seemingly unchecked at times?
Click to expand...
I've heard multiple shows bring this up lately, they all said it would do no good to be tough with Rhule so we softball him questions and don't want to be actual journalists. They wait until they know a coach is out the door to be critical and bring up stories about how they knew stuff for years and kept it quiet. Sipple asked a pretty benign question about next year being a reset and it set off Rhule. Like him or hate him Josh Peterson lost his press credentials for pissing off Rhule during the season.

 
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featherivered

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Be careful what you wish for. Two years ago, the Broncos were in the dumpster, as was Nebraska. I was in purgatory. Things will improve, but it's harder now at the college level. That level is broken. I still think Rhule deserves more time and patience, sort of like TO got, once upon a time.
 
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The_Guy_Behind_The_Guy_Behind_The_Guy

The_Guy_Behind_The_Guy_Behind_The_Guy

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Change in the Football program will only happen when the Coaching Staff, players, all the way down to the training staff are not OK with losing.

It is their attitude that needs to change. They are all ok with being disrespected.

Some people in life take it personal, work harder, and go on to prove their critics wrong. Others are ok with just going through the motions and don’t care about losing. It is choice.
 
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RBigredMax1

RBigredMax1

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What would he say if asked directly about it? “I believe in Matt and his vision for the program. Obviously the year didn’t end the way we wanted and we brought in new player talent and coaching talent to elevate the team in 2026. The schedule is one we are looking forward to competing with and will have a chance to get some of our unfortunate streaks out of the way and I’m confident the team will inspire our fans and boosters, who we are so thankful to for their dedication.”

Media can ask but all you will get is Coach speak.
 
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HuskerInCarolina

HuskerInCarolina

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Yes, we want the media to ask the RIGHT and HARD questions. But Rhule would give you coach speak in return. It would be very vague. It would contradict his previous statements just weeks before.
The problem comes that there is seldom any follow up questions that challenges the BS answers we get from Rhule. But like Bishop said, you basically become combative at that point. Do we need the media being combative at the pressers?
We all already know and can clearly see Rhule is in over his head and has been the last 3 years. Because of a low IQ AD who I am guessing is a horrible poker player, we’re locked in with Rhule for at least 2 more years. We need to hope he’s able to figure out how to coach college football above a .500 level.
Sadly, the “real world” is not the Marine Corps because Rhule would be held to the fire and answer all those combative questions. My hope is he at least can ask himself those combative questions and answer them. But that hope is pointless, I fear.
 
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K Rod

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Matt is always behind the 8 ball. Stuck with Satt as OC in year two. The 3-3-5 has been steamrolled every year. Guys like Betts, Coleman were busts. Trying to play catch up. Last year, with a schedule that was as good as it gets we implode mid season for second year in a row. But this year Matt says we have the money to bring in the best players. And we no longer need Eckler. So this should be the breakout year we expected last year. Or another train wreck. Time will tell.
 
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cestrup

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RBigredMax1 said:
What would he say if asked directly about it? “I believe in Matt and his vision for the program. Obviously the year didn’t end the way we wanted and we brought in new player talent and coaching talent to elevate the team in 2026. The schedule is one we are looking forward to competing with and will have a chance to get some of our unfortunate streaks out of the way and I’m confident the team will inspire our fans and boosters, who we are so thankful to for their dedication.”

Media can ask but all you will get is Coach speak.
Click to expand...


It’s a great point, though. The question hasn’t even been brought up. Which is an issue as there’s no accountability. The program can lose forever with little consequence. Hire another vampire, rinse and repeat
 
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SuperBigFan69

SuperBigFan69

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I don't blame them for asking "easy" questions because face it, this is sports media, not hard hitting journalism. They want to make it as easy as they can for themselves, which I totally get.

With that said, it would be great to be like "So, how come you guys have sucked so bad?"
 
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Man Woman & Child

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Scoop123 said:
I have seen several posters on this board suggest loyal fans are to blame. After all, they keep buying tickets to a poor performing product and the University is happy as long as their pockets are full. (seems like a reasonable suggestion.) These posters suggest that if fans would dry up the money spigot this will rattle the University into better decision-making and or accountability. I’ve seen people argue about this on the board, and I have given a lot of thought to it. While I agree that theoretically it could work, I don’t see it ever happening. Too many generations of loyal Nebraska fans, my family included, simply will not let this happen. The free market wins. If one guy doesn’t wanna drop 70 bucks on a ticket in protest, the guy next to him will gladly spend it. I just don’t see it as a viable solution. Hope is eternal for diehards.

I have what I think is a better solution and seems like an easy one, although it certainly is not. I think a major culprit in Nebraska’s 20+ year struggles is a complicit media. I asked a week or two ago if anyone on here has seen or heard Dannen get asked about the extension for Rhule. Crickets.

I just saw on HuskerMax that Dannen gave another interview. I did not see the whole interview, but the recap mentioned nothing about the extension. It looks like the interview was done with Huskers.com so obviously this will be a softball, PR type interview. Where is anyone in the Nebraska media asking difficult questions? One of the key purposes of the media is to hold people in power accountable. That’s why it is the only profession named and protectedin the constitution that I am aware of.

I am now out of state and not very familiar with the local media other than what I read and listen to online. Am I reading this right? Do the Nebraska coaches and A.D.‘s get drilled by difficult questions or is it a lot of softballs that allows mediocrity to prevail, seemingly unchecked at times?
Click to expand...

Good theory. But you have a higher possibility of fans banning the program than the media getting tough with it. Two very simple reasons...
  1. Advertisers
  2. Credentials
Pissing off current and/or potential advertisers who are connected to the program, whether just as fans or as invested parties though sponsorship, etc, is suicide for any media of any format.

As far as credentials, you lose access, you've got nothing to report. Again, suicide for your, probably already struggling, media business.
 
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orclover11

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Scoop123 said:
I have seen several posters on this board suggest loyal fans are to blame. After all, they keep buying tickets to a poor performing product and the University is happy as long as their pockets are full. (seems like a reasonable suggestion.) These posters suggest that if fans would dry up the money spigot this will rattle the University into better decision-making and or accountability. I’ve seen people argue about this on the board, and I have given a lot of thought to it. While I agree that theoretically it could work, I don’t see it ever happening. Too many generations of loyal Nebraska fans, my family included, simply will not let this happen. The free market wins. If one guy doesn’t wanna drop 70 bucks on a ticket in protest, the guy next to him will gladly spend it. I just don’t see it as a viable solution. Hope is eternal for diehards.

I have what I think is a better solution and seems like an easy one, although it certainly is not. I think a major culprit in Nebraska’s 20+ year struggles is a complicit media. I asked a week or two ago if anyone on here has seen or heard Dannen get asked about the extension for Rhule. Crickets.

I just saw on HuskerMax that Dannen gave another interview. I did not see the whole interview, but the recap mentioned nothing about the extension. It looks like the interview was done with Huskers.com so obviously this will be a softball, PR type interview. Where is anyone in the Nebraska media asking difficult questions? One of the key purposes of the media is to hold people in power accountable. That’s why it is the only profession named and protectedin the constitution that I am aware of.

I am now out of state and not very familiar with the local media other than what I read and listen to online. Am I reading this right? Do the Nebraska coaches and A.D.‘s get drilled by difficult questions or is it a lot of softballs that allows mediocrity to prevail, seemingly unchecked at times
Click to expand...
Nebraskans are just too nice. Philadelphia and New York have committed fans, but their fans and media border on violent and are ALWAYS bullies. Their media is so fun to watch because they just **** on their players daily, are unreasonably over-reactive, and have unreasonable expectations. So how players nad coaches are treated, the pressure does matter. The problem is the phillies, yankees, eagles, mets, knicks have the resources to get great players. I am not sure nebraska is attractive enough to get the best players to be ******** to the players.
 
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goldencohusker

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featherivered said:
Be careful what you wish for. Two years ago, the Broncos were in the dumpster, as was Nebraska. I was in purgatory. Things will improve, but it's harder now at the college level. That level is broken. I still think Rhule deserves more time and patience, sort of like TO got, once upon a time.
Click to expand...
Broncos - as in Denver Broncos? The Broncos are committed to winning. The more appropriate analogy for this discussion would be the Colorado Rockies. One of the worst franchises from a W/L perspective in MLB. Ownership is not committed to winning, that is very clear, but it's been proven year in and year out that they can rank in the top half of MLB attendance no matter what rag tag team they roll out. The Denver media isn't easy on the Rockies but that doesnt matter as the turnstiles speak loud enough for ownership.
 
SuperBigFan69

SuperBigFan69

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Man Woman & Child said:
Good theory. But you have a higher possibility of fans banning the program than the media getting tough with it. Two very simple reasons...
  1. Advertisers
  2. Credentials
Pissing off current and/or potential advertisers who are connected to the program, whether just as fans or as as invested parties though sponsorship, etc, is suicide for any media of any format.

As far as credentials, you lose access, you've got nothing to report. Again, suicide for your, probably already struggling, media business.
Click to expand...
Exactly, I think fans need to remember that these guys are running a business. Husker fans still, for the most part, demand "positive takes", they know how to pander to their audience.
 
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Scoop123

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HuskerInCarolina said:
My hope is he at least can ask himself those combative questions and answer them. But that hope is pointless, I fear.
Click to expand...
Agree 💯

Self reflection and humility are what is needed. Like TO asking Bowden for help in the early 90s, right before we had the greatest run in program history. Unfortunately, Matt has not shown indication he is willing to do so. He gives lip service on pointing the thumb, but who is he reaching out to as a mentor and looking for guidance?
 
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HuskerInCarolina

HuskerInCarolina

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Scoop123 said:
Agree 💯

Self reflection and humility are what is needed. Like TO asking Bowden for help in the early 90s, right before we had the greatest run in program history. Unfortunately, Matt has not shown indication he is willing to do so. He gives lip service on pointing the thumb, but who is he reaching out to as a mentor and looking for guidance?
Click to expand...
Phil Snow.
 
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Fed-Up

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As someone who has advocated holding this fan base responsible for this current football malaise.....it is correct...NO ONE will ask the hard questions to anyone in the athletic department in Lincoln.

That fact is one of the reasons that it will have to be the fans who hold the athletic departments feet to the flames. There is no reason for the dannen or anyone to really get serious bout football. We will continue to throw money at it...because the fans continue to throw money at it.

As for me, this is the year I am NOT renewing my season tickets. I have paid a lot of money and watched a lot of really horrible football.
 
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Spinner4

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What questions aren’t they asking?

how about asking him to go back to his quote

“I'm no longer worried about... We got what we need to go get the best players in the country."

and ask him why he said it, if it wasn’t true?

Then point out that he then lost a QB to UK because they outbid him. And we settled for a lower guy. Then how he wanted a RB but couldn’t afford one.

Below doesn’t look like best in the country


IMG_4298.jpeg
 
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Redscarlet

Redscarlet

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Well we didn’t get a Running back in the portal says it all when he comes up with “I really like the room that we have”

That isn’t the answer I want to hear from him.
We flat out need a better running back for next season.
 
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cestrup

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inWV said:
The coaching staff disagrees and they are ones that get fired.
Click to expand...

Really wish we would have paid for this kid from Michigan, Haynes. Elite speed and one cut and gone. Something we haven’t had since what? Helu? Ameer?
 
redwine65

redwine65

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the media need to ask better questions.
I would have been asking who is replacing 0 & 9? a year before they left..
or why can't raiola run? how many times has ted p been injured?
 
inWV

inWV

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redwine65 said:
the media need to ask better questions.
I would have been asking who is replacing 0 & 9? a year before they left..
or why can't raiola run? how many times has ted p been injured?
Click to expand...
First question is one that is a recruiting question. Kids out of HS aren’t ready to play like Nash and Ty. Do you want them to ask hypotheticals about portal DLs in August?
Raiola doesn’t have good instincts as a runner. Also he is overconfident in his abilities and always thinks he can make a late throw. Teddys injury history can be found in the articles already published.
 
redwine65

redwine65

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inWV said:
First question is one that is a recruiting question. Kids out of HS aren’t ready to play like Nash and Ty. Do you want them to ask hypotheticals about portal DLs in August?
Raiola doesn’t have good instincts as a runner. Also he is overconfident in his abilities and always thinks he can make a late throw. Teddys injury history can be found in the articles already published.
Click to expand...
good point, 0 & 9 should'nt have been replaced with kids out of HS..theshould have been juniors at the ready instead. (hint for coach)
raiola's lack of running placed even more inportant of lt performing (hint for coach)
Teddy's injury history meant we could be thin at left tackle (hint for coach)


the media needs to attack weak points like a defense would....these are constructive hints for coach
 
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RBigredMax1

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Honestly - I think this is the role of message boards now. They give alternate views from media about how the common fan is feeling about the program. While I believe coaches aren’t thumbing through - they have an idea of the hot buttons I think.
 
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RealTucoSalamanca

RealTucoSalamanca

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RBigredMax1 said:
Honestly - I think this is the role of message boards now. They give alternate views from media about how the common fan is feeling about the program. While I believe coaches aren’t thumbing through - they have an idea of the hot buttons I think.
Click to expand...
Unfortunately the message boards are made up of only a small percentage of the population and the ticket holders that actually attend games or consider themselves fans. People who sign up on message boards aren't the common fans. They are the fringe outliers. If I ask my uncle and my dad who have been season ticket holder for many many years about the program, they will say things like, this is better than it was because we are gong to bowl games, and the last few games weren't very good. They need a roster and a depth chart to know who most of the players are, less the ones that went to a high school that they are familiar with. Many of the people in the state that are older than say 55, think the money spent on college athletics is ridiculous and they are growing more frugal as they get older. The college aged kids of today were ten years old when Bo Pelini was the coach, which is the last time this team was winning 9 games on the regular.

As was stated the media needs access to do their job, if the university is going to ban access for writing or saying something, why would they want to lose access? Secondly most of the media outlets are owned by out of state media companies. They only care about the bottom line. This is why 1620 couldn't afford to keep Sharp, they hired basically a the university intern to replace Hadley because apparently he was too expensive. 247 let Schaeffer go because they aren't making enough to keep 3 writers on staff. Now he is doing 2 jobs, I am sure that isn't simply because he loves Nebraska football.

I have never understood the narrative that coaches "don't want to win". While there are always outliers, that is like hiring a CEO, who might make some bad decisions and thinking he/ she is doing it on purpose. 99.9% of head coaches and CEOs have worked their way to those positions making good decisions over the course of their careers. They aren't sabotaging their jobs by failing on purpose so they can get some sort of windfall. Most of those people are high ego people that don't want to fail and will do what they can to succeed.
 
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dinglefritz

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RBigredMax1 said:
Honestly - I think this is the role of message boards now. They give alternate views from media about how the common fan is feeling about the program. While I believe coaches aren’t thumbing through - they have an idea of the hot buttons I think.
Click to expand...
And make no mistake, Dannen and Rhule are fully aware of what message board and other social media are saying.
 
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dinglefritz

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RealTucoSalamanca said:
Unfortunately the message boards are made up of only a small percentage of the population and the ticket holders that actually attend games or consider themselves fans. People who sign up on message boards aren't the common fans. They are the fringe outliers. If I ask my uncle and my dad who have been season ticket holder for many many years about the program, they will say things like, this is better than it was because we are gong to bowl games, and the last few games weren't very good. They need a roster and a depth chart to know who most of the players are, less the ones that went to a high school that they are familiar with. Many of the people in the state that are older than say 55, think the money spent on college athletics is ridiculous and they are growing more frugal as they get older. The college aged kids of today were ten years old when Bo Pelini was the coach, which is the last time this team was winning 9 games on the regular.

As was stated the media needs access to do their job, if the university is going to ban access for writing or saying something, why would they want to lose access? Secondly most of the media outlets are owned by out of state media companies. They only care about the bottom line. This is why 1620 couldn't afford to keep Sharp, they hired basically a the university intern to replace Hadley because apparently he was too expensive. 247 let Schaeffer go because they aren't making enough to keep 3 writers on staff. Now he is doing 2 jobs, I am sure that isn't simply because he loves Nebraska football.

I have never understood the narrative that coaches "don't want to win". While there are always outliers, that is like hiring a CEO, who might make some bad decisions and thinking he/ she is doing it on purpose. 99.9% of head coaches and CEOs have worked their way to those positions making good decisions over the course of their careers. They aren't sabotaging their jobs by failing on purpose so they can get some sort of windfall. Most of those people are high ego people that don't want to fail and will do what they can to succeed.
Click to expand...
Exactly correct.
 
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Scoop123

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RealTucoSalamanca said:
I have never understood the narrative that coaches "don't want to win". While there are always outliers, that is like hiring a CEO, who might make some bad decisions and thinking he/ she is doing it on purpose. 99.9% of head coaches and CEOs have worked their way to those positions making good decisions over the course of their careers. They aren't sabotaging their jobs by failing on purpose so they can get some sort of windfall. Most of those people are high ego people that don't want to fail and will do what they can to succeed.
Click to expand...

💯

I think it’s a bogus argument to suggest Rhule doesn’t want to win. His detractors might think he is in it for himself, Is greedy, doesn’t like being at Nebraska etc. I won’t argue against those points. Wouldn’t winning help him get richer and to a place he wants to be? That’s why I think that argument holds no water.. Even if it is for selfish reasons, the guy wants to win.

My concern is that he doesn’t have the tools to win big and take us to the next level. It is not about desire as much as it is about his ability in my opinion.

To be determined… so far, the cap appears to be seven wins in the Big Ten. I hope he can get to nine or 10.
 
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RBigredMax1

RBigredMax1

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Scoop123 said:
💯

I think it’s a bogus argument to suggest Rhule doesn’t want to win. His detractors might think he is in it for himself, Is greedy, doesn’t like being at Nebraska etc. I won’t argue against those points. Wouldn’t winning help him get richer and to a place he wants to be? That’s why I think that argument holds no water.. Even if it is for selfish reasons, the guy wants to win.

My concern is that he doesn’t have the tools to win big and take us to the next level. It is not about desire as much as it is about his ability in my opinion.

To be determined… so far, the cap appears to be seven wins in the Big Ten. I hope he can get to nine or 10.
Click to expand...
He should have the tools to win 10 and be in the playoff picture. Next years schedule is a beast but if Iowa can play Indy, Oregon to the wire there is no reason we should not be in those games with an opportunity to win.
 
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