Nebraska Football: Marcus Satterfield era already nearing an end?

Nebraska football’s struggles on offense, combined with a less-than-stellar reputation elsewhere for Marcus Satterfield has fans riled up after just two games.

One of the most interesting juxtapositions when it comes to Nebraska football fans and media is that for the most part, the prevailing theory is that new head coaches need a little time to get their systems in place before the calls for his head should start.

The same can’t be said for those head coaches’ coordinators. That’s being demonstrated once again with the public pillorying of the current Nebraska football offensive coordinator, who has coached exactly two games.

There are some in Husker Nation who are already out for blood and won’t stop until they get Marcus Satterfield’s.

Social media is one thing. Nebraska football fans are tired of losing football. That the offense could be a large culprit if the Huskers log a seventh straight losing season has people grumpy. I am extremely grumpy as well.

But it’s not just the fans. On Sunday, Husker Extra’s Sam McKewon laid the struggles through two games of the Matt Rhule era at Satterfield’s doorstep.

"Satterfield coordinated five offenses — three at Temple, two at South Carolina — that all consistently struggled with turnovers. Especially fumbles — Temple lost 8, 11 and 11 in 2013-2015, and the Gamecocks lost 13 fumbles apiece in 2021 and 2022. In both years, South Carolina ranked last in the SEC in giveaways."

McKewon hedged a bit in the very next paragraph.

"There’s only so much a coordinator can control about ball security and turnovers. At Oregon State, for example, Mike Riley had a year where the Beavers had 31 giveaways and another with just 14. Plus, nobody made Sims drop two snaps."

Despite admitting he knows that offensive coordinators can control very little about turnovers, it’s clear why the proceeding paragraph laid out the turnover numbers under Satterfield at other stops.

There were other misleading comments from McKewon, including when he was talking about pace of play.

"This Husker team has run fewer plays than Iowa and Northwestern."

It’s worth pointing out that Nebraska football started the season against Big Ten West title contender Minnesota and a resurgent Colorado Buffaloes team. Northwestern has played Rutgers and UTEP. Iowa’s opponents are slightly better (Utah State and Iowa State)

But it seems like perhaps that’s the most accurate comparison.

Nebraska football fans not the only ones hating on Satterfield

On the other hand, while the calls for Satterfield’s job have already started among Husker faithful, it’s not like they’re out there on an island. The Huskers’ offensive coordinator was so hated when he was running South Carolina’s offense that Gamecocks fans are still talking about him.

"While the pseudo-posttraumatic stress might be starting to set in for those in Columbia, take heart, South Carolina football fans: Marcus Satterfield is Nebraska’s problem now."

Marcus Satterfield isn’t going to be fired this week. Or next week, or the week after that. Whether or not he keeps the job after the 2023 season is suddenly a very big question.

Certainly, his future in Lincoln seems in doubt should the Nebraska football offense take a rather sudden turn towards the positive.

The Marcus Satterfield era of Nebraska football isn’t over. But if you squint, you might be able to see the end heading our way. Which is pretty remarkable, even when you consider how quickly the program has made changes over the last few seasons.