Be Better Nebraska.
*I would have posted this regardless of whether Nebraska won or lost against Iowa.
Our family have been donors to the program and longtime season-ticket holders, and I was disgusted and embarrassed by the behavior of our players during the opening coin toss. This was not and should never be who Nebraska is. This was not the Nebraska way.
By not shaking hands with their opponent our players reflected a terrible look on our program and its fans.
- It was poor sportsmanship to the core.
- It was classless.
- It was childish.
- It was embarrassing.
- It was unnecessary.
- It should never happen again.
GROW UP. BE A MAN.
Shake your opponent’s hand, wish them good luck, and then go play ball. Let the chips fall how they may.
Coach Rhule and Nebraska owe Iowa an apology for this – and we would owe them an apology even if we won the game.
AD Dannen cannot let this slide and
must address this with Coach Rhule.
Matt Rhule has chosen all year to name team
“captains” for each game. I personally have disagreed with this from the beginning. A team like any organization needs leaders they can look up to and follow. By having a revolving door of captains there is not a core group of individuals to lead and set the standard.
The behavior last night by our coin toss
“captains” was the complete opposite of leadership behavior. Their choice to act in such a classless manner was an awful reflection on Coach Rhule and the entire Nebraska program. This can’t be the way going forward.
As a side note about the pre-game team prayer/meeting at mid-field:
There is nothing wrong about a team wanting to have a pre-game meeting/prayer before each game – but you don’t
“have to have” your team meeting at mid-field on your home logo or your opponent’s logo.
You could have your pre-game team meeting/ prayer anywhere. Some examples include:
- In the endzone.
- In the locker room.
- In the tunnel.
Nebraska isn’t’ trying to embarrass an opponent by praying on their team logo, and any opponent who cries over such things
(looking at you Colorado and Iowa) are soft.
However, as the head coach the easiest thing for Matt Rhule to choose to do is not have the prayer/team-meeting at the mid-field logo at all. By doing so it doesn’t become a story, and it doesn’t become a problem. By making the choice of not meeting on an opponent’s logo it never becomes an issue.
In truth, there are a few notable things Matt Rhule has chosen to do with the Nebraska program during his first two years that I label as GIMMICKS that I really wish he would stop going into year three.
They include:
- Single Digit #’s – It’s a Gimmick.
Alternative Idea – I would be happier if they let a handful of players get to choose their own numbers from a list of Nebraska legacy players. It helps current players learn about Nebraska’s rich football history. Select 1 or 2 players from each position group where they get first choice and can choose their own number from a selection of past Nebraska greats. For example, quarterbacks could choose between #’s (7, 12, 15, 18).
- Pre-game Oklahoma Drill – It’s a Gimmick.
All of this from the pre-game coin toss antics to the stubbornness of having to have your pre-game meeting on a team’s logo is all a reflection on leadership choices and decisions.
Nebraska requires its head coach and its players to be better.
Unless of course moral victories of sticking it to an actual winning program who kicks your a$$ every year and no longer even considers you a rival, by not shaking hands is good enough to make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside. 
