I don’t know what Rhule promised or didn’t promise John Butler to come be secondary coach, but if it was with the plan to potentially become DC, Rhule needs to probably scratch that plan and go poach the very best guy he can find from the best defense he can find that can bring as many of their playmakers as possible.

Cause it certainly looks like we are about to get raided over losing our DC and simply promoting a guy new to the college game will net us much less opportunity to replace those players through the portal.

While today has certainly been an eventful day from a personnel standpoint, I for one, am excited about the future and not at all down on losing the players that we have or the coaches. Gbayor and Coach Knighton are the two that probably sting the most, but its a DL coach and a linebacker with very little eligibility left. Same goes for Butler and Ervin. None of those guys are All Americans or first team all-conference even. The defections only open the door for young players and better coaches to come through. White's defense certainly had its shining moments, but they also had quite a few failures as well. Over the last two years, how many different times did we see the offense give us the lead, only for the defense to give up the easiest drive of the game immediately afterwards to hand it right back. I don't think I am saying anything groundbreaking when I say that the Frost mentality of pooping your pants when the lights are the brightest has carried over to this regime as well. Purging some of these players and replacing them with guys that aren't used to losing is nothing but positive in my personal opinion. The staff will hit the portal hard, McGuire is likely replaced by Mozee (who is an even better recruiter) and the defense will continue to grow with a youth infusion (and likely a few portal additions as well). We won 6 games this year and bottomed out last Friday night. There is nowhere to go but up from here.

Doesn't Jim Leonhard have to be your first call as a DC? 1.5 Million, let him run the Defense he wants. He had very good, aggressive defenses at Wisconsin and understands the Big 10. Plus a chance to stick it to Wisconsin who let him go for some reason? I think he is just an assistant for the Broncos, he can't be making that much as a db coach there can he?

You just wouldn't. You would be excited for the potential of your team and its growth. You would use the offer to make NE match money, and you would settle in and get after it.

CEO head coaches have back up big names ready to replace at anytime because they are good at their job. Sucks that we aren't a real college football team with real direction anymore. Frustrating just isnt a big enough word anymore, and Im a Lions fan.

Hey folks, will have a story up in the morning to get you ready for Signing Day this Wednesday and there's plenty that could change across the country over the next 72 hours or so. Typically the final stretch to the Signing Day features unpredictable twists and turns, this year is no different especially with the accelerated calendar.

Login to view embedded media First off, on Cortez Mills. Like we've been reporting for a month at least at this point, Nebraska's continued to chip away at Oklahoma and confidence in Norman is dwindling, especially as they manage their offensive coordinator search, which has been a roller-coaster. Nebraska has been aggressive with their pitch on the field and with NIL. It isn't over till it's over, but signs favor the Huskers here in the final hours. Oklahoma making an OC hire, or at least indicating to their commits that they have one in the fold could change the momentum here though.

Login to view embedded media Nebraska has battled hard for four-star athlete Michael Terry III, making this a tougher decision than he ever imagined. But ultimately, the current read is Texas still holds the edge because of the proximity to home and the clearer path to national championship contention. At this point, if Nebraska is the pick, it's going to be because he has a last-second change of heart at the table on Wednesday. He's planning to early enroll, otherwise Nebraska likely would have preferred if he delayed his decision till the All-American Bowl or the February Signing Period. Still a chance Nebraska ends up being the pick and I don't want the effort that Rhule, Garret McGuire and so many others on staff have made here to make this recruitment as tightly contested as it is. We're going to stay diligent in our coverage on it as the staff makes their final push over the next few days.

Login to view embedded media Finally, weirdly enough the recruitment that might be the toughest to read of the three right now: We're expecting a final decision of some sort from four-star tight end Chase Loftin this week. Sources indicate it's coming down to Florida State or Nebraska. Either he sticks with his pledge to the Seminoles, amidst their disastrous 2024 season, or he decides to stay home. There's confidence out of Tallahassee that he'll stick with his pledge, especially after they hired Gus Malzahn to take over as offensive coordinator, an aggressive move that has gone over well with current commits and targets. As

IF either are involved in a leadership or coordinator role in the new defense, I will puke in my mouth. Big boy decision time, they ain't it...

I have not entered the Portal, and plan to return for my 63’rd year of eligibility.

Don’t get pissed off, contemplate it as a serious question. If a coach eventually builds a winner, do they move on to a better situation? I ask this as an Iowa grad living in Boulder for many years. My guess is Ferentz’s successor will be looking at the next job. Prime’s final destination is likely not Boulder. Just wondering if Nebraska is now in a similar situation.

Every 2 or 3 year it's been a shit show. Fans, location, conference, talent, no booze in the stadium, coaching, monetary support? I mean WTF

You gonna give as much as last year?

I haven’t decided yet

1st bowl game since 2016.

Just logged on after coming down with the flu the last few days. I didn’t want my last post to get buried in another thread and saw multiple threads on this.

Made some calls and there’s a lot of talk of Tony White going to FSU as DC and taking T Knight with him. People that told me this don’t know what to think and don’t call it some done deal, but a lot of smoke at this point. Most people I spoke with assume a possible scenario is promoting John Butler to DC.

Not calling this a done deal by any means. Just a lot of people believe this plan is in motion, at least the Tony White and T Knight part.

If things go the way speculation sees them going and we lose satt, Thomas, McGuire, barthel, knighton, white, foley, and potentially butler if we pass him for dc. That seems like an awful lot of staff turnover doesn’t it? Like I don’t think anyone irreplaceable but has any other head coach had to hire basically a brand new coaching staff and done well?

Things moving fast but is there any update on DH getting signed beyond the bowl? Hoping I missed something. Would be good to know for the stability of remaining staff.

Adam Carriker brought this up on the radio and it’s a great question I think

I’m at 70% to be honest

Since 2015, they’ve won 8 or more games every season (minus the COVID year where they finished 6-2)…they don’t panic when they have an 8-5 type of season (or make in-season coaching changes), they just get back to work the next year and put up 9-10 wins…they put OL, TEs and white DBs in the league…are they a little boring and dull? Sure…but I’d take boring and dull right now. They know exactly who and what they are: a 2nd tier BIG program that flirts with 1st tier every 3-4 years…Nebraska thinks they are a first tier BIG program on par with the Ohio States, Michigans and Oregons but we have yet to rise above the bottom feeder tier.

While this post sounds needlessly pessimistic and a little overly pro-Iowa, it’s more a plea for consistency, stability and discipline. Make OL and DL play the cornerstone of your program and good things will happen

Rhule 6-6
Norvell 2-10

Very different records yet similar circumstances heading into the offseason.

AP Top 25 (12/2)


Others Receiving Votes
Michigan State (108), Arkansas (104), Texas (97), Michigan (95), Arizona State (89), Indiana (72), Drake (58), Xavier (33), Utah State (28), Louisville (27), West Virginia (26), Clemson (25), BYU (24), Dayton (24), Texas Tech (22), Nebraska (22), Mississippi State (20), Ohio State (19), Maryland (13), UCLA (13), Creighton (12), St. Mary's (11), Georgia (10), St. John's (7), Loyola-Chicago (4), Florida State (3), DePaul (3), UC-Irvine (2), Columbia (2)

Co-Offensive Player of the Week
RB - Aidan Laughery, Illinois (SO)
- Registered a career-high 172 rushing yards and three touchdowns in a 38-28 win over Northwestern
- First touchdown was an Illini season-long 64-yard run early in the second half
- First Illinois player to rush for three touchdowns since 2022
- Marks consecutive Illinois Offensive Player of the Week recipients: Pat Bryant (Nov. 24, 2024)

Co-Offensive Player of the Week
QB - Kurtis Rourke, Indiana (SR)
- Led Indiana to a dominant 66-0 win vs. Purdue to reach a program-record 11 wins
- Completed 23-of-31 passes for 349 yards and a career-high six touchdown passes, tying for the most in a single game by an IU quarterback
- Threw a career-long 84-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter
- Leads the nation in passing efficiency at 181.4
- Named Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week for the third time this season (Sept. 16, 2024 & Oct. 7, 2024)

Defensive Player of the Week
LB - Jailin Walker, Indiana (SR)
- Recorded an interception, a forced fumble and 1.5 sacks in a 66-0 win over Purdue
- His effort led to Indian's first shutout victory since a 2020 game against Michigan State
- Also recorded five tackles, including a career-high four tackles for loss
- Last Indiana Defensive Player of the Week: D'Angelo Ponds (Oct. 28, 2024)

Co-Special Teams Player of the Week
K - Drew Stevens, Iowa (JR)
- Delivered a game-winning 53-yard field goal in a 13-10 win over Nebraska
- Hit a 20-yard field goal in the third quarter to up his total to 19
- Is 19-of-22 on the season, marking the most field goals made in a season for an Iowa kicker since 2021
- Last Iowa Special Teams Player of the Week: Kaden Wetjen (Oct. 28, 2024)

Co-Special Teams Player of the Week
K - Dominic Zavada, Michigan (JR)
- Connected on two field goals, including the go-ahead field goal with 45 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter and a 54-yarder in the second quarter in Michigan's 13-10 win over Ohio State
- First Michigan kicker to make five field goals of 50 or more yards in the same season
- Is a perfect 7-of-7 from beyond 50 yards this season
- Fourth Michigan Special Teams Player of the Week award for Zavada: (Sept. 2, 2024, Sept. 30, 2024 & Nov. 11, 2024)

Freshman of the Week
RB - Antwan Raymond, Rutgers (FR)
- Scored two touchdowns to help Rutgers to a 41-14 win over Michigan State
- Rushed for 71 yards on nine carries, averaging 7.9 yards per carry
- First Rutgers freshman to rush for two touchdowns in a game since 2022
- Last Rutgers Freshman of the Week: Johnny Langan (Oct. 28, 2019)

Jamari Butler doubling down on Twitter on the not shaking hands thing. Oohhh, such "dawg" attitude for a dude who couldn't be bothered to pursue Iowa rb on the big screen play. Did the same to USC and OSU too? Lmao losers. Bitch boys.

I'm getting fed up with Rhules preacher "culture". I've defended him plenty, but can't anymore. Right there with whacko Kong. It's mainly the outwardly public fake Christian bs like the locker room prayer that says "if we lose, we shall stand by the side" in contrast with thuggish behavior like this. One or the other... Pick! Because like most fake Xianity these days and the politics that go with it, it's a bad look. Pushes people right the fvck away.

Ra Ra Ra - but underwhelming results. If it weren't for that fake culture bs that attempts to cover the fact these players still don't know how to win, not doing things like the midfield prayer and walking through other teams warmups, etc and our players actually behaved like good sports, I could live with the results of this season and be happy/complacent.

But all the shenanigans is just tarnishing our program - poor play and records doesn't help either. Maybe if we were dominant and pushing for playoffs I could stomach such nonsense. But man... It's getting harder and harder to cheer for Big Red, and not cheer FOR whoever is our opponent any given week.

Do we know our bowl opponent yet? Go whoever it is - beat the Huskers!

Edit: I feel dirty after that last part, my bad. But damn... Rhule and this nonsense on top of big bad Frost and his insistence we were going to play regardless of the covid stuff, just to allow players to out of the lucky bowl invite at seasons end is just the kind of stuff that makes one not want to be a fan anymore. I have way too many signed husker memorabilia from the golden years to just move on easily. Sure is tempting to check out until Rhule is gone though. Might just go that.

I'm not sure how recruiting works so correct me if I'm wrong. Are we quickly approaching a time where the main assistants are not out recruiting almost ever. Instead they are coaching and scheming?

And u just have ace recruiters whose only job is recruiting and only bring in the HC to seal the deal?