The Fallout: Big changes for Nebraska football; Huskers own Creighton

Nebraska football head coach Matt Rhule isn’t messing around.

After firing defensive coordinator John Butler, Donovan Raiola was let go on Saturday. Rhule also acted quickly to replace both assistant coaches.

Rob Aurich, the former defensive coordinator at San Diego State, has been hired to replace Buter. He led the No. 5 defense in college football last season, one year after it ranked 97th. He was also the DC for Idaho for two seasons, and coached the Vandals to two top-25 defenses (total yards in the FCS).

Aurich is a hire with a high ceiling and a low floor. The three defenses he has coordinated at the D-1 level improved each season he was on the job. Will that happen at Nebraska?

Aurich will bring a 4-2-5 front to the Huskers, which seems to fit their players better. It lessens the need for a massive nose tackle. The new DC feels like a boom-or-bust kind of candidate. He’s never coached in a Power-4 conference. But if Rhule hits on him, it would be huge for the program.

Geep Wade, the former Georgia Tech offensive line coach, is a home run. We analyzed the move already, just like Aurich. He has a high floor and a high ceiling. I’d be stunned if he wasn’t successful.

It’s unknown if there will be any other changes to the coaching staff. That will probably be revealed this week. Nebraska football quarterback Dylan Raiola still hasn’t said anything since a CBS Report came out suggesting he could leave via the transfer portal.

Clarity should come soon.

Nebraska basketball has turned the Creighton rivalry on its head

Remember when people wanted Fred Hoiberg fired? It’s funny because some people were even talking about it last season. That’s the world we live in, but something to remember when we talk about Matt Rhule.

It took Hoiberg a few years to get the program up and running. Now, the Huskers are rolling at 9-0. They have won 13 games in a row (most in college basketball) and have some solid wins on the resume.

What was most impressive about Sunday’s 71-50 win was the defense. Creighton shot just 26 percent from the field. Nebraska basketball also led wire-to-wire for the second year in a row. Rienk Mast had 20. Fred Hoiberg added 15. He made two triples and was incredible on both ends of the floor.

In a world where Indiana is No. 1 and the Big Ten football champion, it feels like Nebraska might have a team good enough to win an NCAA tournament game for the first time.

Crazy stat of the week

Nebraska volleyball advanced to the Sweet 16 with back-to-back sweeps in the NCAA tournament. The Huskers are now 32-0, and along with the men’s and women’s basketball teams, the Huskers are 50-0 this year in those sports.

Astounding.