NEBRASKA CITY – Two games into the Matt Rhule era, Nebraska is ranked 132 in the nation in turnover margin and is the only team in the Big 10 still looking for its first win of the season.

Fans know Nebraska has had six losing seasons since its last bowl victory in 2015 and they know the team has never finished higher than fifth in the Big 10 West, but Coach Rhule said,  for him, the narrative is only two games.

At Thursday’s Big Red Buzz at Valentino’s, Husker Radio Network analyst Damon Benning said history has not reset for the fans. He reasoned that if it’s hard for fans to forget the past, it is even harder for players.

At Thursday’s press conference in Lincoln, Coach Rhule talked about the team’s mentality.

Rhule: “The thing for me is, as I’ve told the guys, you know I’ve worked my whole life, I’ve waited my whole life to have a chance to step out at Memorial Stadium and be the head coach for the Huskers and they’ve worked their whole lives to be able to put on that helmet and go out there and compete and play together. So, I’m going to take the field with joy. You know I’m going to take the field wanting to go 1-0, not taking the field as an 0-2 team.

“I think a lot of our guys are carrying around 0-2 with them instead of I’m carrying the joy of playing this week.

“I’m being transparent about where the team is. This is what the team needs to do though. This is how you reverse trends. This is how you change six …. however many years it has been of losing, is that you confront head on the things that you are afraid of.

"You confront head on the noise you hear, you confront head on those thoughts in your brain of fear and failure – that little voice in your brain at 2 o’clock in the morning – you confront all of that and you overcome it.
“Then you become a strong, confident team and the program has confidence. There is no easy way around it.

“I hope that being at home helps us in that process, but the process that we are going through is still internal for each player, still internal in the locker room. They have to overcome the past and be in the moment and build for the future.”

Benning called the Nebraska team a resilient bunch, but prescribed moving the football in critical situations without thinking about the worst that might happen or having the worst actually happen.

Benning: “This rhythm thing for the offense is a real thing and we need to get into one.”

He noted Coach Rhule’s reflection about pre-season practices where the offense struggled to get into rhythm against a blitzing first defense. He said a great remedy for Nebraska’s offensive woes will be a simple as multiple positive plays in a row.

Benning: “It’s more snaps or multiple first downs.”

He said Nebraska has taken some hits and is staggering into its first home game, so the coaches and fans will be watching to see how they respond.

He said Northern Illinois will challenge Nebraska with a shifty defensive line and good defensive backs.