Former Nebraska football coach Scott Frost liked to try and come off as a “player’s coach.” Whether he actually was that or not is another matter, but in public, he tended to shoot for that reputation. For offensive coordinator Mark Whipple, he’s got a different few on things. In particular, he doesn’t feel as though being seen as a “nice guy” is very effective.
During his weekly press conference on Tuesday, Whipple explained that when dealing with the Nebraska football players during practice and in a game, being nice doesn’t normally work that well for him.
“When I walk around being a nice guy,” Whipple said, “it just doesn’t work as well as when I’m a d—.”
While that particular line got some laughter during the press conference, it’s clear that Whipple believes that right now, the Huskers need a bit of tough love. The Nebraska football offensive coordinator said that one thing sticking out that is causing him quite a bit of frustration is that when the offense doesn’t score, the players don’t seem as bothered by it as he does.
After getting a stern talking to on the sidelines by OC Mark Whipple, Casey Thompson is on the sidelines for this series.
— Steve Marik (@Steve_Marik) October 2, 2022
Chubba Purdy is now in the game.
Specifically, he said that one way to fix the offense is going to have the players be as “frustrated” as he is. He’s not seeing it so far. That might be one reason there was a sudden quarterback change on Saturday.
Mark Whipple feels frustration with Nebraska football players
On Saturday, 247sports Steve Marik noticed that the Huskers’ offensive coordinator and star quarterback were having a long conversation on the sidelines. At the end of that conversation, it was Chubba Purdy that entered the game while Thompson remained on the sidelines.
After the game, head coach Mickey Joseph did comment that the staff decided it would be better for the signal caller to watch a series and see what was happening. It’s safe to say the urgency was not where Mark Whipple wanted it from the starter.
The man running the offense these days was also frustrated about one other aspect of the team’s thought process. He said that he’s quite frustrated with the talk about a goal is to just make a bowl game.
Mark Whipple said that he believes the Nebraska football team can still win the Big Ten West, and that should be their only goal for the 2022 season.