ADVERTISEMENT

If you were Troy Dannen…

Im glad this message board exists. It’s been fun to read how to properly operate a D1 athletic program. Hopefully the coaches and admin know about this board so they can pull in some of these top shelf ideas to help get them back to relevancy!
The admin and coaches have been trying to get this program back to relevancy for a decade and have failed miserably while collecting tens of millions of dollars
A random poster on thhs board if given those duties probably wouldn’t fair much worse
 
  • Like
Reactions: maly and Zeke2005
A top OC will come here. Especially when we’re giving 1.4 million to a guy that ranks 99th in rushing.
I may be in the minority, but I have some pretty big concerns about the defense. The defense had good stats last year, but they played against some very bad offenses. And they broke down too many times when the game was on the line. This year's defense looked good against Colorado, but pretty bad against the only two teams they played that had a decent offense (Illinois and Indiana).
 
Last edited:
I hesitated to start this thread about the AD because I recognize my current pessimism could be totally reversed in the next month. (I should have also realized the discussion here would quickly move away from the AD.) But I am really puzzled by the AD’s decision to take this job knowing his success is tied to a guy he has never even worked with. He certainly had to know Rhule’s two quick college HC stops could have been fool’s gold just as Frost’s quick UCF stop proved to be.

He must really love living in Nebraska!
 
Last edited:
I may be in the minority, but I have some pretty big concerns about the defense. The defense had good stats last year, but they played against some very bad offenses, and they broke down too many times when the game was on the line. This year's defense looked good against Colorado, but pretty bad against the only two teams they played that had a decent offense (Illinois and Indiana).
This is where I don’t even understand why you retain Rhule. Other than financial reasons of course.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Dylman and oldjar07
A top OC who wants to be a power conf head coach in the next 3-5 years isn’t going somewhere that they perceive as a sinking ship.
Older guys with limited yrs left in their careers would jump at a huge offer - see Mark Whipple

Rhule and Nebraska aren’t in the career killer category yet. Rhule thought Satt was a top guy worthy of 1.4 million - I hope he does better with his next OC eval
Bump it up to 2 mil and I doubt it’s an issue.
 
Im glad this message board exists. Its been fun to read how to properly operate a D1 athletic program. Hopefully the coaches and admin know about this board so they can pull in some of these top shelf ideas to help get them back to relevancy!
This snarky argument used to hold water, until it turned out that the crowdsourced decision making on this site and others like it turned out to be better than the bozo's running things in Lincoln. It might not always be that, or for every AD, but it's been right for quite a few years now.
 
I hesitated to start this thread about the AD because I recognize my current pessimism could be totally reversed in the next month. But I am really puzzled by the AD’s decision to take this job knowing his success is tied to a guy he has never even worked with. He certainly had to know Rhule’s two quick college HC stops could have been fool’s gold just as Frost’s quick UCF stop proved to be.

He must really love living in Nebraska!
OK so I see you have changed this post that stated if you were a betting man you would bet that Nebraska doesn't win another game.

I am confused as to how you have already come to the conclusion that Rhule's two stops are fool's gold and compare him to Frost? I see very little comparisons between the 2 and how they have approached the Nebraska job or their past coaching experiences.
 
  • Like
Reactions: headcard
Im glad this message board exists. Its been fun to read how to properly operate a D1 athletic program. Hopefully the coaches and admin know about this board so they can pull in some of these top shelf ideas to help get them back to relevancy!
Monday morning quarterbacking! It's what we do best! 😎
 
This snarky argument used to hold water, until it turned out that the crowdsourced decision making on this site and others like it turned out to be better than the bozo's running things in Lincoln. It might not always be that, or for every AD, but it's been right for quite a few years now.
It is easy to make decisions from the ivory tower where you have no fiscal responsibilities and your future career progression is not on the line with the decisions you make.

Every teacher in our district can bitch and moan about every decision my district superintendent makes, and together we may be able to come up some ideas that would be great. What we don't have is all of the pressure to make those decisions nor do we have all of the information needed to make those decisions, or how one decision affects 20 other decisions that have to be made.
 
  • Like
Reactions: V-Doub and headcard
It is easy to make decisions from the ivory tower where you have no fiscal responsibilities and your future career progression is not on the line with the decisions you make.

Every teacher in our district can bitch and moan about every decision my district superintendent makes, and together we may be able to come up some ideas that would be great. What we don't have is all of the pressure to make those decisions nor do we have all of the information needed to make those decisions, or how one decision affects 20 other decisions that have to be made.
This is pretty true!
 
I hesitated to start this thread about the AD because I recognize my current pessimism could be totally reversed in the next month. (I should have also realized the discussion here would quickly move away from the AD.) But I am really puzzled by the AD’s decision to take this job knowing his success is tied to a guy he has never even worked with. He certainly had to know Rhule’s two quick college HC stops could have been fool’s gold just as Frost’s quick UCF stop proved to be.

He must really love living in Nebraska!
Troy is from a small town outside Marshalltown, Ia. He and his wife are very much midwesterners. He vividly remembers watching the success in Lincoln during the 90's from a state next door. The financial strength of UNL's athletic department and excellent fan support are important to him. It can definitely be a destination job for him. When he called his life long mentor Bob Bowlsby to ask him about the AD job at UNL and whether he should take it, Bowlsby responded with an emphatic "Yes". It then became a done deal.
 
  • Like
Reactions: WHCSC and headcard
The biggest thing is Coach Rhule says he wants to run the ball but his oc wants to throw it. So is Rhule just saying that to the fans to make us happy or is there a disconnect between him and satt? If the latter is the case then that’s a problem the Rhule needs to rectify now
 
if I was the AD I would stay pretty hands off with Rhule, a guy I didn't hire and have zero ties to

that way when the time comes to either invest in him or cut bait the choice will be obvious
 
The biggest thing is Coach Rhule says he wants to run the ball but his oc wants to throw it. So is Rhule just saying that to the fans to make us happy or is there a disconnect between him and satt? If the latter is the case then that’s a problem the Rhule needs to rectify now
I don’t know how they can be on staff together given the differences in what they want. Oil and water. Scott Frost/Mickey Joseph and Mark Whipple.
 
I hesitated to start this thread about the AD because I recognize my current pessimism could be totally reversed in the next month. (I should have also realized the discussion here would quickly move away from the AD.) But I am really puzzled by the AD’s decision to take this job knowing his success is tied to a guy he has never even worked with. He certainly had to know Rhule’s two quick college HC stops could have been fool’s gold just as Frost’s quick UCF stop proved to be.

He must really love living in Nebraska!


I don't see why not hiring the current football coach would keep someone from taking an AD gig. Football coaches are who get AD's fired and in this case, if the guy fails, he wasn't your hire anyway.
 
I don't see why not hiring the current football coach would keep someone from taking an AD gig. Football coaches are who get AD's fired and in this case, if the guy fails, he wasn't your hire anyway.
100% agree here

Dannen has been gifted time in the form of several years - something that's pretty rare for ADs these days
 
  • Like
Reactions: Zeke2005
The biggest thing is Coach Rhule says he wants to run the ball but his oc wants to throw it. So is Rhule just saying that to the fans to make us happy or is there a disconnect between him and satt? If the latter is the case then that’s a problem the Rhule needs to rectify now
Yeah, and then you toss in DR at QB whom I'm fairly certain didn't come here to hand the ball off primarily. 🙃
 
  • Like
Reactions: Zeke2005
The reason they know it is pressure from their ADs, boosters and the media. The question is whether they're too stubborn to do it. I would guess if Tom had listened to the boosters and majority of peon fans, Charlie McBride would have never lasted at NU. That said, Rhule better realize his OC is a problem in his current mindset.

I hesitate to say this, but here goes. Satterfield sold his house in Lincoln last Spring, and his family is back on the East Coast now. I could definitely see him decide it is better for him and his family to move back East. Sometimes, these things just work themselves out (Shawn Watson as an example).
 
OK so I see you have changed this post that stated if you were a betting man you would bet that Nebraska doesn't win another game.

I am confused as to how you have already come to the conclusion that Rhule's two stops are fool's gold and compare him to Frost? I see very little comparisons between the 2 and how they have approached the Nebraska job or their past coaching experiences.
Hmm. I do think 5-7 is the most likely outcome. As for Rhule’s coaching turnarounds, he and Frost inherited similar situations. Frost turned his into an undefeated season and coach of the year. Yet he flopped when given the big job here. Rhule flopped at Carolina and last year’s November performances certainly weren’t encouraging. Is he a flop here? No but he's trending that way: 5-2 heading to 5-7 and a virtual repeat of last year.

I know you like conflict and that’s good for these fan message boards, which wouldn’t exist without it.
 
Yeah, and then you toss in DR at QB whom I'm fairly certain didn't come here to hand the ball off primarily. 🙃
this is a popular talking point, apparently pointing to his draft stock

QBs don't get drafted based on passing volume in college

JJ McCarthy just got taken in the top 10 playing in a downhill, 2-back, power running offense
 
Hmm. I do think 5-7 is the most likely outcome. As for Rhule’s coaching turnarounds, he and Frost inherited similar situations. Frost turned his into an undefeated season and coach of the year. Yet he flopped when given the big job here. Rhule flopped at Carolina and last year’s November performances certainly weren’t encouraging. Is he a flop here? No but he's trending that way: 5-2 heading to 5-7 and a virtual repeat of last year.

I know you like conflict and that’s good for these fan message boards, which wouldn’t exist without it.
What are the similarities in the situations between UCF and Baylor or UCF and Temple? I mean specifically , not just a w/l record.

Now you are comparing Nebraska and an NFL job???? Ok
 
I hesitate to say this, but here goes. Satterfield sold his house in Lincoln last Spring, and his family is back on the East Coast now. I could definitely see him decide it is better for him and his family to move back East. Sometimes, these things just work themselves out (Shawn Watson as an example).
He sold his house before last year’s season even started?
 
I hesitate to say this, but here goes. Satterfield sold his house in Lincoln last Spring, and his family is back on the East Coast now. I could definitely see him decide it is better for him and his family to move back East. Sometimes, these things just work themselves out (Shawn Watson as an example).
sure seems like Rhule has complete control over his building and staff

in just over 1.5 years, we've seen:
3 different coaches dismissed/replaced just weeks prior to a season kicking off
1 position coach role left unoccupied for an entire season
1 coordinator whose family has abandoned him


guy just gets it
 
sure seems like Rhule has complete control over his building and staff

in just over 1.5 years, we've seen:
3 different coaches dismissed/replaced just weeks prior to a season kicking off
1 position coach role left unoccupied for an entire season
1 coordinator whose family has abandoned him


guy just gets it
I don't hold Rhule responsible for Wager's DUI or Cooper's inability to no dip his pen in the company ink I don't believe either had a history of that sort of behavior. Who is the 3rd? Martin?
Nor would I hold him responsible for Satterfield's family not liking Nebraska.
 
While I understood his desire to be near family and friends his decision to come here never made much sense to me from a professional standpoint. It’s not like he didn’t have a comparable job at Washington that he was leaving and he controlled the critical football coach hire, I think. He obviously knew he was going to have his career riding on the football program getting revived and he was going to be stuck for years with Trev’s guy to get that tough job done.

So the question I have been pondering: If OSU blows us out and this year turns out to be another 0 for November, would I just sit on my hands and hope Rhule figures out this gig soon? Or would I push hard for assistant coaching changes in 2025 knowing that Rhule like most of his predecessors will balk and whatever relationship we have now will go South?

Just curious what you think might happen, assuming Rhule is safe no matter what for at least three or four years. I also realize we may do great things the rest of this season and this discussion may be moot.🤞🫰
Chain of command is proper protocol to me. Head coaches make the assistant coaches' recruitment, and are ultimately responsible for their performance. End of the year evaluations by the AD, in regards to head coach's performance, and final result of the team's success, should take place and discussion of action needed to improve the on-field product. AD should make known his expectations for next year's team, and that failures of the head coach's assistants must be dealt with by HC, or his position will be in jeopardy.
 
Jim Harbaugh
It is all relative
Prior to the COVID year in harbaughs 5 years he averaged 9.4 wins per year
I don’t think there is pressure to make changes at Nebraska anymore if the coach is getting those results
 
While I agree that we need an upgrade in assistant coaches, has a HC ever change up his staff because he was on the hot seat, and things actually turned around?
Who is on the hot seat? I don't think Rhule is even on a mildly warm seat right now. Satt is on the hot seat because the offensive production is not what it should and could be. Heck Rhule could simply give play calling duties over to Glenn Thomas in off season and not even fire Satt
 
if he sold his house, cut bait on him right now..

ok, you can keep him on the payroll for the next 6-8 weeks, but move him on out and let the other guy OC things..

Satt was going to leave anyway it seems.. maybe this had been the plan all along and Rhule knew it before bringing in the other guy.
 
if he sold his house, cut bait on him right now..

ok, you can keep him on the payroll for the next 6-8 weeks, but move him on out and let the other guy OC things..

Satt was going to leave anyway it seems.. maybe this had been the plan all along and Rhule knew it before bringing in the other guy.
This soap opera makes zero sense to me. If Rhule knew Satterfield was leaving why didn’t he cut bait with him at the end of last season? If true, just another example of piss poor management by Rhule.
 
I hesitate to say this, but here goes. Satterfield sold his house in Lincoln last Spring, and his family is back on the East Coast now. I could definitely see him decide it is better for him and his family to move back East. Sometimes, these things just work themselves out (Shawn Watson as an example).
Are you kidding me? He needs to leave, now! He has no interest in being here and will do nothing to move the team forward. This actually explains why the offense is struggling. Players know he's not committed to the team. Reminiscent of Riley and his wife. Came for the paycheck, nothing more. SMH.
 
Are you kidding me? He needs to leave, now! He has no interest in being here and will do nothing to move the team forward. This actually explains why the offense is struggling. Players know he's not committed to the team. Reminiscent of Riley and his wife. Came for the paycheck, nothing more. SMH.

I don't know if we should jump to those conclusions. His family could be back East for various reasons, and I'm sure he discussed it with Rhule, but it certainly seems to make him exiting more likely.
 
What are the similarities in the situations between UCF and Baylor or UCF and Temple? I mean specifically , not just a w/l record.

Now you are comparing Nebraska and an NFL job???? Ok
I’m glad you are defending Rhule and maybe you will be right about him. But, I think he’s proving to be a more polished version of Frost with the same in game limitations and only hope OSU is so overconfident that we don’t get slaughtered again this week.

As for comparing Rhule’s short terms successes to Frost, I think it’s reasonable. I will make one more effort to answer you, then you can find another fight because your history suggests you will. Here goes.

UCF had talent pre-Frost even though the program fell apart the year before Frost took over, Thay had been to a major New Years bowl just a couple years earlier. So while Frost certainly deserved credit it’s not like he didn’t inherit any talent.

Likewise, Baylor fell apart because of Briles but were able to even finish 6-6 under interim coach Jim Grobe. They had never had a disastrous record until they only won one game the next year under Rhule.

Temple of course is a challenge for anyone but Al Golden’s success at Temple a few years before Rhule was just as impressive as what Rhule accomplished there. They have obviously been up and down but it’s not like they were pathetic before or after him.

Believe it or not, I am sick of losing and switching coaches, but I think this guy is just a good preacher with an empty sermon. Better than Frost? We’ll see though that’s a pretty low bar.
 
Last edited:
It is easy to make decisions from the ivory tower where you have no fiscal responsibilities and your future career progression is not on the line with the decisions you make.

Every teacher in our district can bitch and moan about every decision my district superintendent makes, and together we may be able to come up some ideas that would be great. What we don't have is all of the pressure to make those decisions nor do we have all of the information needed to make those decisions, or how one decision affects 20 other decisions that have to be made.
Yeah but these people are cashing the checks. The pressure comes with it, don't cash them if you don't want all the smoke. If they want to pay me to make these decisions, I gladly will.
 
it took only 19 games for what seems like more and more people to turn on Matt Rhule.. that's faster than any coach previously that I can think of.. maybe it's not a majority yet, but checking out a lot of husker groups on FB and lots of people calling for his head already.
 
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT