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Matt Rhule Delivers a Stern, Substantive Message By Hiring Dana Holgorsen

Matt Rhule put his Nebraska team on notice by hiring offensive mastermind Dana Holgorsen

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Nov 19

By Rock Westfall

Following their 27-20 home loss to the UCLA Bruins, the Nebraska Cornhuskers suffered a devastating blow to their credibility. Indeed, the loss was considered substantively worse than the 56-7 road blowout loss against the Indiana Hoosiers two weeks prior.

Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule had a far different type of Monday press conference compared to any other in his tenure. Gone was the sermonizing by Nebraska’s Great Communicator. There was noticeably little in the way of blue sky talk with Rhule’s typical optimistic, upbeat tone. Instead, Rhule was alarmingly down, somber, and somewhat stern. But he also came off as determined. 

It was an appropriate change.

On Monday, Rhule said that he had friends in the college football business reviewing the Nebraska program and giving honest assessments about what needed to be done to fix it. Rhule said that everyone on his staff is under review. While Rhule attempted to defend offensive coordinator Marcus Satterfield, there was notably not a full-throated endorsement.

On Tuesday, Matt Rhule went direct signal instead of noise by hiring former West Virginia Mountaineers and Houston Cougars head coach Dana Holgorsen as a consultant.

The hiring clearly demonstrates that Rhule has laid down the gauntlet and is ready to get tougher on his staff and players. 

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Holgorsen certainly has the opportunity for an inside track to the OC position if Rhule decides to make a change.

A five-and-out scenario (losing the final five games) and failing to earn a bowl berth this season is not a tolerable option after going four-and-out in 2023.

Matt Rhule has justifiably put his players, coaches, and staff on notice.

Holgorsen arrived in Lincoln on Monday ready to roll.

Dana Holgorsen: A Quarterback Guru & Offensive Mastermind  

Unlike Marcus Satterfield, Dana Holgorsen has previously led prolific offenses and quarterbacks. He arrives at Lincoln with unimpeachable offensive credibility.

Holgorsen has a career record of 92-69 as a head coach at West Virginia and Houston. He first became famous as Mike Gundy’s offensive coordinator with the Oklahoma State Cowboys, where he was a finalist for the Broyles Award as the nation’s top assistant coach.

Holgorsen comes from the Hal Mumme and Mike Leach coaching trees. That means his expertise is in the Air Raid system. While his offenses consistently put up big numbers, the Air Raid is not a traditionally successful Big Ten style of offense.

Consider that Matt Rhule talked of imposing physicality by using fullbacks and power running schemes over the summer, only to see that vision disappear once the regular season began.

Holgorsen’s obvious objective is to save Dylan Raiola, Nebraska’s struggling true freshman 5-star recruit who was flipped from the Georgia Bulldogs last December. Nobody is more qualified than Holgorsen for that specific task.

Previously, Holgorsen worked as an assistant and head coach with top college quarterbacks, such as Graham Harrell, Case Keenum, Brandon Weeden, Geno Smith, Will Grier, and Clayton Tune.

And should Raiola and his family have a wandering eye for the transfer portal, Rhule has made a powerful statement about bringing in credible offensive leadership and tutelage.

In an earlier column published on Sunday, I mentioned that Rhule was enabling Satterfield to damage Raiola’s career based on the QB’s regression since conference games began.

However, Rhule’s power move of hiring Holgorsen was a brilliant counter and a statement of his more serious demeanor for the Big Red’s stretch drive to a bowl game.

New Matt Rhule – A Tougher, Serious & More Demanding HC  

Perhaps the money moment of the Monday press conference was when Rhule said he needs guys to feel like he feels about where things stand, which is not very good right now. That statement was quite a tell.  

Rhule started with the obligatory lines about how he loves his players but quickly transitioned to the fact that they need to execute, make plays, and accept the pressure of being a Nebraska Cornhusker. If Big Red players can’t handle the demands, they are welcome to leave.

While Rhule has always been serious and demanding as the Nebraska HC, there was plenty of positive motivation and reinforcement along the way. As of Monday, that appears to be ending.

Rhule has mentioned how well the community and fans treat Nebraska players. The Husker program has lavish facilities that rival any in the country. Perhaps that leads to a comfort and entitlement that Rhule must shake-up.  

Despite not having gone to a bowl game since 2016, the Big Red continues to play before sellout crowds at Memorial Stadium, which has sold every ticket available since 1962. Too much is being taken for granted and there is fear of apathy finally setting in.

Reading between the lines, Rhule’s real message on Monday was that Nebraska is soft and immature. They have not handled success, nor have they learned how to win.

The inconsistency of effort and execution has finally made Rhule snap into taskmaster mode, which is a most welcome and necessary development.

On Tuesday, Matt Rhule, through his actions, clearly stated that enough is enough. 

With this week’s bye, Nebraska will be practicing through and including Thursday before preparing next week for its road game against the USC Trojans and another shot at clinching a bowl game.

Matt Rhule looked physically ill on Monday, as if he had lost a loved one.

On Tuesday, Rhule got off the floor and reasserted his program while reaffirming a commitment to championship football.

As of now, Nebraska players and coaches are on notice.

Score a “W” for the HC on this statement-making hire.

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