Nebraska Cornhuskers Fans Demand Holgorsen Departure After Loss to Washington

Nebraska football supporters are calling for the end of the Dana Holgorsen era after the Cornhuskers suffered another late-game defeat. The loss to Washington, which came after a fourth-quarter meltdown, has intensified criticism of the offensive staff. Fans believe the coaching team failed to execute a consistent plan when the stakes were highest.

The primary target of the criticism is Holgorsen. The blog post argues that his insistence on deep passing throws over consistent running plays is a fundamental error. The article notes that the team completed 44 passes against only 29 runs. The author describes this ratio as idiotic, particularly because only two of those passes were directed at running backs. This imbalance contrasts with the author's view that a grinding approach is necessary to win in the Big Ten.

Holgorsen previously stated that the Big Ten is a race to 21 points. The author rejects this characterization, arguing that the conference is better described as a slugfest. The piece cites previous losses to Indiana, Oregon, and Washington to prove that the race-to-21 strategy does not work. The writer contends that teams like the Huskies and Ducks did not race to victory but instead wore down their opponents through physical play.

The coaching staff's decision-making during the final minutes of the game drew specific attention. The author points to a critical moment where Washington's best player was left in single coverage on a fourth-and-18 situation. On the subsequent play, that same player was left alone. The blog calls these defensive coverage errors almost unthinkable and suggests they reflect a pattern of poor choices by the coaching staff.

Head coach Matt Rhule appears protected from immediate dismissal due to his contract. The author notes that Rhule is 2-26 against ranked teams. However, the blog argues that the $70 million buyout clause makes him too expensive to fire. Consequently, the pressure falls on Holgorsen. The piece suggests that if the head coach cannot go, the offensive coordinator must take the fall for the team's inconsistent performance.

The article also highlights specific game management issues. The coaching staff failed to use timeouts correctly and did not play adequate coverage when needed. The blog states that the team ran the ball inconsistently throughout the contest. The author argues that opponents can easily predict Nebraska's game plan by watching the offensive coordinator abandon strategies that are working in favor of risky passing attempts.

The post suggests a three-step strategy for teams playing Nebraska. First, quarterbacks should stay in coverage without audible-ing because the signal caller, Colandrea, does not seem able to change plays effectively. Second, opponents should wait for the Nebraska staff to make a strategic error. Third, teams can then secure a victory. The author notes that even high school teams are less predictable than the current Husker coaching staff.

Jay Stockwell, a co-host of the Sunday Morning Quarterback podcast, wrote the analysis. Stockwell is a Nebraska alumnus and a retired Navy Commander. He co-hosts the show with Bob Frady. The blog encourages fans to subscribe to the podcast on Spotify, iTunes, and YouTube. The post also directs readers to HuskerMax.com for daily updates on the Cornhuskers.