Just throwing it out there. We obviously will be hiring a DB coach, and we just hired one Chiefs assistant. Merritt obviously has a vested interest in the program now and has ties to Mozzee. I'm not syaing I know anything, but it seems like it would make sense...

That time of year.
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Any updates on the match.

According to UNL, here is the salary info for WRs coach Daikiel Shorts Jr. and OLBs coach Phil Simpson:

Shorts' contract runs through January 31, 2027. His salary will be $400,000 until February 1, 2026, when it gets bumped up to $450,000.

Simpson's contract also runs through January 31, 2027. His salary will be $350,000 until February 1, 2026, when it gets bumped up to $375,000.

Seeing the stories about the drones flying over the eastern US reminded me of people reporting seeing drones flying over the Midwest a few years ago. Was that ever solved?

Where does Indiana get that money from? Michigan State also spends that for a crap product..
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Nepotism has plagued the program since Osborne left...

Solich: Hired essentially because he was Osborne's OC
Callahan: Brought over Jay Norvell and Kevin Cosgrove. Kevin Cosgrove had statistically terrible defenses.
Pelini: Hired because he was essentially on Solich's staff. He then hired his brother Carl Pelini.
Riley: Brought over several coaches from Oregon State including Danny Langsdorf and DC Mark Banker after they were statistically horrible the season prior
Frost: Legacy hire. Basically brought over the the whole staff from UCF including his DC whose name escapes and me and was terrible statistically.
Rhule: Kept Donovan Raiola. Brought in Ed Foley. Satterfield was his former OC at Temple.

We will never get better at Nebraska unless we get rid of the nepotism. We have to hire a HC who will hire the best assistant coaches in the country regardless of if they've "worked with them."

Here's to another long season...#GBR

QB) Raiola - Lateef
RB) Emmet Johnson, Dowdell, and newcomer Parker, Mekhi Nelson
FB) ??
TE) Markaway, Nelson, Haarberg
OT)
OG)
C)
WR) Barney, Jr., Cortez Mills,

DE) Nweneri, Cameron Lendhart, Jordan Ochoa
DT) Van Poppel, Vincent Jackson

OLB)
ILB) Jones, Shavers

CB) Ceyair Wright, Amare Sanders, Larry Tarver Jr.

S) Buford

K)
P)
LS) New guy from the east coast smaller school - sounds N after the visit but tough to know for sure til we see that famous Yellow Box on the Message Board

It seems as though everything Rhule wants to do is based on an NFL model, and given our demographics, etc, I think that’s smart.

From S&C to nutrition to our “pro-style” offense, he’s going to promote us to players as a pseudo-NFL breeding ground.

Is the Butler hire “exciting?” No, not really. But the DL coach sure is, and I’ll bet the DB coach is also.

So far, we’ve got:

* HC - former NFL HC
* DC - former NFL assistant who coached one of the leagues best units
* Assoc head coach - former NFL coordinator
* DL coach - NFL asst who coached one of the league’s best units

I guess overall, I trust Rhule’s vision, brand marketing and messaging to prospective players.

Dane Key 6’3 210 has entered the portal

Way to go Frankie!!

Not going anywhere, that I’ve heard.

He’s not a guy that we talk about a lot, which is a good sign, that he’s getting the job done.

Carry on coach Campbell, and thanks for the good work.

Press release via Nebraska Athletics:

Nebraska Head Coach Matt Rhule announced today the addition of Phil Simpson to the Huskers’ defensive staff. Simpson will serve as Nebraska’s outside linebackers coach and will coach for the Huskers in the upcoming Pinstripe Bowl.

Simpson was on the Nebraska defensive staff as a quality control coach in 2023 and returns to the program after spending the 2024 campaign as a senior defensive analyst at Florida State.

“We are excited to bring Phil Simpson back to Nebraska to work on our defensive staff,” Rhule said. “I have known Phil since his playing days at Temple, and he has continued to rise in the coaching profession. Phil is a great teacher and an outstanding relationship-builder. He makes great connections not only with his players, but also with prospective student-athletes and in the high school coaching community.”

In his one season at Nebraska in 2023, Simpson helped coach a Nebraska defense that ranked in the top 15 nationally in rushing defense, total defense and scoring defense. The Blackshirts were one of the nation’s most improved defensive units and posted its highest sack total since 2014.

“I am excited to be back at Nebraska and have the opportunity to be a part of this great program,” Simpson said. “Coach Rhule has a history of building programs, and I know he has Nebraska on the same path to success. I look forward to contributing to exciting times ahead for Husker Football.”

Simpson spent time as a high school coach in Florida and has extensive recruiting connections in the state. Simpson was the head coach at Homestead High School for four seasons from 2019 to 2022. In his final season, Simpson led Homestead to the 2022 Class 3M state championship game, the school’s first state title game. He was named the Miami Herald Coach of the Year in 2021.

Simpson coached at Southridge High School for four seasons from 2015 to 2018, serving as the defensive line coach in his first year before being promoted to defensive coordinator for his final three seasons. He helped the Spartans to a state championship in 2016.

Simpson was a defensive lineman at Temple from 2004 to 2007, with Rhule on the Owl staff for his final two seasons, including the 2006 season as Simpson’s defensive line coach.

Lincoln Regional gets going again tomorrow evening with the Sweet 16 matchups.

Here’s a primer on #1 Nebraska vs. #5 Dayton and #2 Wisconsin vs. #6 Texas A&M:

Broke down Thursday’s presser feat. Matt Rhule + John Butler with @TimVerghese

Tim got to cookin’ on a couple different topics, so give it a watch/listen:

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Reports are in that former West Virginia coach Rich Rodriguez is going to be hired as the next head coach at West Virginia. With Frost going back to UCF happening as well and with Rutgers getting back on track with Schiano. Maybe what's old can be what's new. I mean North Carolina is replacing one old guy with a championship pedigree with another.

If Ryan Day gets fired at Ohio State, Billy Napier at Florida, and Mike Norvell gets tomahawked in Tallahassee. Maybe Meyer, Spurrier and Fisher get their old offices back.

Lastly if Rhule doesn't get at least 8 wins next year, perhaps recent Hall of Fame Frank Solich gets a call. Maybe USC calls Pete Carroll. Alvarez at Wisconsin, Ferentz at Iowa......scratch that last one.

Did I miss any?

I believe Butler will be successful here. But we are going to need to get him media training because I can’t listen to pressers where he uses these two phrases 20+ times for very long.

Official announcement soon.

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Starts in December

Over 3000 words here taking you behind the scenes of Nebraska's 2025 class construction