The Nebraska football coaching rumor mill took no time at all to start spinning on Sunday. Just a little over an hour after Huskers AD Trev Alberts talked about how there were absolutely going to be rumors out there following the firing of Scott Frost, one big rumor has appeared. So does that make it less likely that it’s true?
Best-selling author Lars Anderson, who has deep ties to the Nebraska football program was one of the first prominent NU backers to float a solid rumor out there. According to Anderson, he’s heard from numerous people that Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell is the “primary target” of Alberts.
I want to be clear here. I find it exhausting that not an hour after the Nebraska football team announced it had a new opening, there is already people getting out on social media announcing they have the inside track. However, things are a bit different when it came to Anderson.
He was actually one of the first people who didn’t just talk about the fact that Scott Frost would be a good fit back in 2017. He made it clear he had heard the deal was already done. It turned out it was indeed done before anyone knew the Cornhuskers had themselves a new coach.
NEWS: I’ve never claimed to be a breaking news person, but here we go: Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell is the primary target of NU AD Trev Alberts, sources tell me. It is HIGHLY expected that Campbell will eventually be the next head coach of @HuskerFBNation.
— Lars Anderson (@LarsAnderson71) September 11, 2022
So in this regard, Anderson has a bigger believability factor than some of the other people who will get getting out there on Twitter and TikTok or Instagram talking about who they’ve heard is the top target.
That doesn’t mean I entirely believe Anderson or his sources. But it’s something to keep an eye on because of the source. It’s also a rumor worth keeping an eye on because of who Matt Campbell is.
The Cyclones coach has built an ISU program that has had more success in the last five years than it’s had in almost 100 years. Should Campbell record a winning season this year, it will be the first time in the history of the Iowa State football team that they’ve had six winning seasons in a row.
That’s how moribund the program he’s coaching at these days is. And he’s still kept them competitive.
The big question for some is whether or not Matt Campbell is enough of a “home run hire” for the Nebraska football faithful. While I’d certainly be quite happy if that’s the direction Alberts ends up going, there’s little doubt he’d have to work and truly be successful to win over some Husker fans.
Of course, this could all be moot and the Nebraska football program might end up going with someone else entirely when it’s all said and done.