Rhule Has Been Dealing With More Than Just Injuries

If Nebraska goes bowling this year, the coach will have earned his stripes

Husker fans have been looking at Nebraska's second-half schedule trying to see if there are enough potential wins to get NU to a bowl game this year.

Last week, Matt Rhule tried to be realistic when he said of the schedule, "There isn't a team we can't beat or a team that can't beat us."

Of course he's spot on. In his first season at Nebraska, Rhule has been given a tough hand, opening with two road games vs ranked teams (Minnesota and Colorado) and his team has had to play arguably the best program in college football (Michigan) in just his fifth game as the Husker head coach.

Of course the Husker injury bug has also created nightmares for the first year Husker head coach.

But even before he arrived on campus earlier this year, Matt Rhule was walking into a ring of fire. Lesser coaches would have looked at the odds and said of Trev Alberts' offer, "Thanks but no thanks." Moset coaches would have waited for a better coaching opportunity.

So what challenges am I referring to?

For starters, Rhule took over a football program that has been one of the worst among Power Five schools. Let's take a look at what Rhule has had to face:

1.) 7 out of the last 8 seasons have had losing records.

2.) There have been 6 consecutive losing seasons

3.) No bowl games since 2016

4.) Over the past 8 years, NU has averaged just 3.125 conference wins per year.

5.) NU is 7-26 in one possession games in the Frost/Rhule era.

6.) Over the past year, there have been 3 head coaches (Frost, Joseph and Rhule).

7.) There have been 18 assistant coaches (9 last year and 9 this year)

8.) 2 Offensive Coordinators (Whipple and Satterfield)

9.) 3 Defensive Coordinators (Chinander, Busch and White)

10.) 2 offensive schemes

11.) 2 defensive schemes

12.) 4 starting QBs (Thompson, Purdy, Sims and Haarberg)

13.) Over the past 8 years, NU has had 4 head coaches (Riley, Frost, Joseph and Rhule).

14.) Over that same time, there have been 3 Athletic Directors: Eichorst, Moos and Alberts.

Nebraska has been paying the price for all that turmoil.

But through all that, Husker fans have managed to save the day by extending the Husker home sellout streak to 392-a record that goes back to 1962.

Simply amazing.

No one knows how many games NU will win this season, but if Matt Rhule can find a way to get Nebraska to a bowl game this year, he should at least get honorable mention for Big Ten Coach of the Year.

How 'Bout Them Huskers

In this week's podcast, grandson Will and I discuss the second half of the Husker football schedule and what Nebraska's chances are of becoming bowl eligible. We also talk about the huge volleyball match coming up this Saturday night at the Devaney when #2 NU hosts #1 ranked Wisconsin.

Matt Rhule Says Huskers’ Sole Focus Needs to Be Getting a Win vs. Northwestern

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