Husker Dan Answers His Email Bag

Matt Rhule has the Nebraska football team headed in the right direction.

From time to time, I respond to email messages from Husker fans. The names have been changed to protect the innocent.

Dear Husker Dan:
What is your assessment of Matt Rhule's first year as the Husker head football coach? In my book, it was just another mistake-prone year with another losing record for fans to suffer through.
   Adam Baum
   Denver, CO

Adam: I feel your pain. All Husker fans do. Losing hurts, especially when we've had to endure seven consecutive losing seasons. Most of us thought Matt Rhule would get his team to at least six or seven wins in '23 - after all, he'd been the mastermind of turning around other programs, right?

So why didn't NU at least make it to a bowl game this year? Great question. Let me try to explain.

Quarterbacks

Most people will point to the lack of capable QB play as the reason for NU's losing record. To be sure, of the 31 turnovers NU committed this year, 24 were by QBs. By the Wisconsin game, NU was down to its third-string quarterback, Chubba Purdy. (Jeff Sims was out of the lineup earlier in the year due to injury and later due to poor play. Heinrich Haarberg missed the last two games with an ankle injury.)

Purdy had his own health issues. He'd been nursing a painful groin injury most of the year and was never at full strength. Had circumstances not forced Rhule's hand, Purdy probably wouldn't have played at all this season.

Receivers, running backs and O-linemen

This fall, NU lost its top two running backs due to injuries: Rahmir Johnson and Gabe Ervin Jr. The Huskers also lost their top three receivers: Isaiah Garcia-Casteneda and Marcus Washington (injuries) and Zavier Betts (retirement). Then NU lost three of its starting O-linemen - Ethan Piper, Nouredin Nouili and Turner Cocoran - for parts of the season.

Replacement assistant

Thank goodness almost all of Rhule's coaching staff remained intact. The only change happened in fall camp with the departure of tight ends coach Bob Wager. If you'll recall, Wager had never coached at the college level before, but Rhule gave him a chance to be on his staff at Nebraska. Unfortunately, Wager was forced to resign before the season started. He was replaced by special teams analyst Josh Martin.

Given all the challenges they had last fall, the Huskers were still in position to beat Iowa with less than a minute to go in the game. The win would have put NU in a bowl game for the first time since 2016. Unfortunately for NU fans, Iowa won the game and Nebraska had to stay home for the holidays.

Thank goodness for Tony White. Had it not been for the outstanding play of his defense, NU likely never would have won five games or been in all the other five one-possession games it lost. With better players, White's defense and an improving O-line, Nebraska looks to have a very bright future.

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Husker Dan:
With the signing of superstar Dylan Raiola, how many wins do you think Nebraska will have this fall? I have a bet with my brother on this one!
   Stan Downe
   Breckenridge, CO

Stan: Before predicting this year's Husker win-loss record, we need to slow down a bit. Dylan Raiola is an 18-year-old kid who has yet to play a down of college football. He first has to earn his wings. Incoming freshman Danny Kaelin and junior Heinrich Haarberg aren't just going to roll over and play dead.

If Dylan is the starter, Husker fans will need to be patient. If he throws a pick late in a game and Nebraska loses, fans will have to move on to the next game. Dylan is coming to Lincoln with a ton of pressure on his shoulders. Give him time to learn and develop.

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Husker Dan:
Do you think this is the year Nebraska men's basketball finally wins an NCAA tournament game?
   Barry Lee Able
   Oshkosh, WI

Barry: Whoa, big fella! Let's first see if Fred Hoiberg's team can earn a winning season at Nebraska. This is Hoiberg's fifth year at the Husker helm. After his first four seasons, his win rate is a disappointing .375. This year, the Huskers are off to one of their best starts in a long time at 11-2. If the Huskers can keep winning, great things might happen.

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Husker Dan:
What's your take on next week's national championship game between Michigan and Washington?
   Mark Dupp
   Cleveland, OH

Mark: I picked 'Bama to beat Michigan and Washington to upset Texas, so I'm not sure if anyone should go to the bank with my predictions.

Picking Alabama was based on their performance against an excellent Georgia team in the SEC conference championship game in Atlanta. That win opened my eyes. Also, I didn't think Michigan's schedule was very tough - hence my Tide prediction.

When it counted the most, Michigan's defense rose to the occasion. Their D found a way to shut down mighty Alabama in OT. Great win for the Wolverines!

I also predicted that the winner of the game between Michigan and 'Bama would win the national championship. I really like Washington and their head coach, Kalen DeBoer. He is a great coach and a class act. The Wolverine defense will be the difference in next Monday night's championship game at NRG Stadium in Houston. Two 14-0 teams will collide. Should be a classic game.

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Husker Dan:
Do you think Matt Rhule will hire a full-time quarterbacks coach in the off-season?
   Ann O'Rexick
   Peru, NE

Ann: I think the possibility of Rhule hiring a QB assistant is getting better by the day. The question is, who does he replace to make room for the QB coach? What might happen is that this year's TE coach (Josh Martin as mentioned above) will return to his special teams analyst role. Husker OC Marcus Satterfield, who doubled as the QB coach this year, could take on the tight ends. That move makes room for the new Husker QB coach.

But, that's just speculation on my part.