Reason for Optimism

[SLOHusker]

I know that getting to bowl matters a lot psychologically and I hope it happens, but we also need to look at how few upperclassmen are actually difference-makers on this team and the impact of the freshman and sophomores. Ty Robinson, Hutmacher (who I actually think was better last year), Benhart, Scott, and the punter, our MVP, Brian Buschini are the only guys I'd say have have been reliably better than the opposition this year. Rhule inherited a roster that is on par with a MAC team. Sorry, but it is true.
I know Raiola has struggled a bit in the latter half of the season but he is a true freshman and OSU and Georgia likely planned to redshirt him for the reasons we are seeing on the field. And we also have Kaelin and TJ Lateef coming in. We have more pure QB talent than we have had in a long, long time. Barney has been our most dynamic weapon offensively as a true freshman. Willis McGahee pushed his way into playing time as a true freshman. Our best two running backs are sophs, Gottula has played really quite good as a freshman and we have a roster of hopefully very good young OL, our receiving corps does have a lot of young, fast guys that should start contributing next year, and he same is true on the defensive side.
Heck, if Corcoran and Prochazka are back next year and don't get injured that OL could be really good.
Our kicker has grown over the season too and has shown he can deliver in big moments.
The recruiting is good too. We have guys that can come in and fill desperately needed positions with high-end talent. I'm hopeful we could get a 5 star WR to go with an already good receiver class. We just don't have a guys that strike fear in a defense.
I am encouraged that we will keep Holgerson and he will really elevate our offense and the play of our QBs.
And finally, we have the NIL money to pour into getting the type of next-level talent to push us over the top.

 

[SickOfPractice]

Short term optimism for me is Wisconsin letting their OC go. That paired with a very loud home crowd next Saturday might contribute to some Badger offensive dysfunction and a couple or 3 false starts, etc.

If this game is close that might be just the difference we need.

 

[goldencohusker]

We need some reasons for optimism to help us keep some sanity.

However, if we fail to win one of the two next games, Rhule will finish with the same year 2 record regular season record as both Riley and Frost did (5-7) while having the worst 2nd half record of any of the 3 at 0-6 (Frost went 1-5 and Riley went 3-3). Optimism is going be in even shorter supply than it is right now. That said, there are a few things that will be the litmus test for me and help keep me off the ledge:

1) Is Rhule able to keep the good young talent from leaving through the portal. Say what you want about Raiola's regression this year or possibly being overhyped or not as good as advertised, the symbolic impact of him leaving the program after one year would be a big blow to the program and how others view it.
2) Can they maintain a top 20 recruiting class, and potentially improve on the current ranking, given a poor finish to the season
3) Are there significant upgrades in the coaching staff (well discussed)

 

[HuskerOH]

We need some reasons for optimism to help us keep some sanity.

However, if we fail to win one of the two next games, Rhule will finish with the same year 2 record regular season record as both Riley and Frost did (5-7) while having the worst 2nd half record of any of the 3 at 0-6 (Frost went 1-5 and Riley went 3-3). Optimism is going be in even shorter supply than it is right now. That said, there are a few things that will be the litmus test for me and help keep me off the ledge:

1) Is Rhule able to keep the good young talent from leaving through the portal. Say what you want about Raiola's regression this year or possibly being overhyped or not as good as advertised, the symbolic impact of him leaving the program after one year would be a big blow to the program and how others view it.
2) Can they maintain a top 20 recruiting class, and potentially improve on the current ranking, given a poor finish to the season
3) Are there significant upgrades in the coaching staff (well discussed)

I think Raiola will be a one done. I said this when he first committed. I was severely trashed for that comment. I think he is chasing the money. He needed a place to play his first year. We will see if his Husker loyalty is as strong as he claims. I trust no players anymore, NIL and the portal has forever changed college football.

 

[Pennsyhusker]

I think Raiola will be a one done. I said this when he first committed. I was severely trashed for that comment. I think he is chasing the money. He needed a place to play his first year. We will see if his Husker loyalty is as strong as he claims. I trust no players anymore, NIL and the portal has forever changed college football.

Could very well be that he is out of here at the end of the year. On the other hand, how much is he worth in terms of NIL right now to other teams? He has played like total dog shit for the past five games or so. He is easily sacked, holds the ball too long, misses seeing wide open receivers downfield, and overthrows wide open receivers in the end zone. I am sure some team would certainly take a chance on him and chalk up his current struggles to our overall ineptitude, but he is certainly not a million dollar commodity right now. If Holgorsen sticks around and we continue to pony up decent NIL money for him I could see him staying.

 

[HuskerOH]

Could very well be that he is out of here at the end of the year. On the other hand, how much is he worth in terms of NIL right now to other teams? He has played like total dog shit for the past five games or so. He is easily sacked, holds the ball too long, misses seeing wide open receivers downfield, and overthrows wide open receivers in the end zone. I am sure some team would certainly take a chance on him and chalk up his current struggles to our overall ineptitude, but he is certainly not a million dollar commodity right now. If Holgorsen sticks around and we continue to pony up decent NIL money for him I could see him staying.

If there is one thing I have learned with the NIL and free agency (portal), throw logic and reason out the window. It is the beauty pageant queen that cleans up. Potential is better than results.

 

[19Football19]

Could very well be that he is out of here at the end of the year. On the other hand, how much is he worth in terms of NIL right now to other teams? He has played like total dog shit for the past five games or so. He is easily sacked, holds the ball too long, misses seeing wide open receivers downfield, and overthrows wide open receivers in the end zone. I am sure some team would certainly take a chance on him and chalk up his current struggles to our overall ineptitude, but he is certainly not a million dollar commodity right now. If Holgorsen sticks around and we continue to pony up decent NIL money for him I could see him staying.

Potential sells. And with legit talent around him he’s a star. He won’t ever be here because of the lack of talent. You put him with a legit top 20 program, he can make the throws with anyone out there.

 

[BugsAreQualityProtein]

I think Raiola will be a one done. I said this when he first committed. I was severely trashed for that comment. I think he is chasing the money. He needed a place to play his first year. We will see if his Husker loyalty is as strong as he claims. I trust no players anymore, NIL and the portal has forever changed college football.

If he leaves it’ll throw an entire wrench into Rhule’s tenure.

 

[thall_]

Short term optimism for me is Wisconsin letting their OC go.

i see that as a bad sign. we always seem to shit the bed when the opponent makes a change, like the numerous times we've been clowned by backup QBs. moves like that always seem to energize the opponent and deflate us.

i think a blessing in disguise is that Wisconsin played the #1 overall team so close. hopefully they're as mentally weak as our team and will come out flat after a near monumental victory.

 

[mgbreis]

This is worth precisely zero, I admit, but I was told by the only guy I know that is semi plugged-in that the NIL deal with Raiola was premised on him being here two years. I know that's not enforceable and it might not even be true, but that's what I heard. I can't even blame him if he leaves, we've turned him into a bust for now.