Big Red Buzz: Coach Satterfield still setting a standard of excellence

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NEBRASKA CITY – Coach Marcus Satterfield lost his play-calling duties ahead of Nebraska’s trip to USC on Saturday, but Husker Radio Network analyst Damon Benning told his Big Red Buzz audience at Nebraska City Thursday that he maintained his role as a culture builder in Lincoln.

For what Coach Satterfield was to the team last year in terms of temperament, loyalty and consistency, Benning said he earned every opportunity this season to see what he could do with a talented quarterback, young wide receivers and an experienced offensive line.

Benning said he admires the ability of a leader who can show that he is all in and he cares about the person he is working with but who can also walk away when it doesn’t go the right way. He said Head Coach Matt Rhule is like that.

Benning: “He’s going to help you along the way, but when he’s done he’s done.”

 

 

He said the players and the staff get a chance to see that while coach Rhule thinks the world of them, he recognizes the standard and holds people accountable to that standard.

Benning said players see how Coach Satterfield handles his situation.

Benning: "They see a guy often maligned, people saying he’s this, he’s that. They know the inner workings. He still goes to work every day. He still lays it on the line every day and when he had a chance to quit, he didn’t. So, if nothing else, Coach Satterfield will be the number one example going forward of caring but not coddling.”

Benning expects the example to carry over to player competition at positions because players have an example of the reality that “if I do not do my job, they will move on to the next."

Benning: “It’s fantastic because what that does, it breeds internal competition.”

Benning said he does not know if the shake up will mean wholesale changes in terms of personnel, but said he expects to see players, even if they have had a lot of playing time in the past,  to contribute in new roles.

Benning: “Did you catch what Coach Rhule said in the press conference when he talked about some of the differences in the passing game? … He said one of the things with Dana’s offense, with his passing scheme, is it’s about leverage. If a guy is outside leverage I can just run a slant. If it has inside leverage I can just run a speed out. We have a lot more option routes, like choice, so it’s freeing.”

Benning attempted a play-by-play call of Coach Holgorsen’s ascent to play-calling duties.

“(Coach Rhule) thought about this for a while, put out the feelers and waited for Dana – Coach Holgorsen – to respond. Like he had to come here first. So it wasn’t like this secret hand shake deal … So Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday … Dana never said a word. He didn’t call any plays. He didn’t say anything about the offense, he is just taking notes. Then I think on Thursday and Friday of last week … then it turned into ‘hey, is this something you can do?’ – That’s literally how it happened.”

What happens for the remaining three games remains to be seen.

USC 28, Neb 20

GBR