Big Red Buzz: Consultants are beautiful

NEBRASKA CITY – Husker Radio Network Analyst Damon Benning told his Big Red Buzz audience at Valentino’s Restaurant in Nebraska City that bringing in consultants Dana Holgorsen and Phil Snow could be the prescription that cures Nebraska’s identity disturbance.

When Nebraska opened the season 5-1, there were complaints from outside the program followed by coordinators making statements at press conferences about how the team could score in the fourth quarter if needed or how the team could outscore opponents if the game conditions necessitated it.

Benning noted that when Coach Matt Rhule was at Temple and Baylor a 5-1 start would have been lauded, but the same at Nebraska brought criticism about what the team could not do. He said bringing in consultants can remind the coaching staff that it does do not have to explain the process.

Benning: “If you listen to what everybody says and you already have a hard time with identity, you’re going to struggle. Nebraska lost the reality of itself because it fell victim to wanting to be everything to everybody."

"If I could bottle a formula of success for any coach that wants this job you would have three things.

1. Have conviction
2. Be competitive
3. Be self-aware

He said Coach Rhule also brings a fourth element for success.

Benning: “Not only is he competitive and self-aware, he’s other-centered. That means he can look at a situation and want the best for you and it may be at his expense.”

He said these attributes allow Coach Rhule to bring in a consultant to take pressure off his offensive coordinator and a consultant he trusts to assess even the head coach.

Nebraska is averaging 18.3 points per game through six Big 10 games. The Huskers have not won a game when the defense allows more than 14 points.

He said the consultants may not be called on to develop a game plan, but can observe how Nebraska installs its game plan and how it prepares players for that game plan.

Benning: “Are we focusing on the right things. Are we just busy being busy. Are we mistaking activity for achievement or are we really putting our guys in the best position possible? That’s what a new set of eyes can get you.”

Phil Snow is a former defensive coordinator for Rhule at Temple and Baylor. He has a background with defensive backs and was defensive coordinator for the Carolina Panthers from 2020 to 2022.

Dana Holgorsen is a former Houston and West Virginia head coach who was most recently a consultant at TCU.

Prior to the season, Coach Rhule hired Glenn Thomas from the Pittsburgh Steelers to serve as co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. Offensive Coordinator Marcus Satterfield was moved to tight ends coach and maintained play-calling.