When comparing first-year head head coaches, Nebraska Football’s Matt Rhule once again has a leg up on Colorado’s Deion Sanders.
Following the Nebraska Football team’s 31-14 win over Purdue, you could make the case that the Huskers got two wins over the Colorado Buffaloes. The first victory was over a former Buff in Boilermakers coach Ryan Walters.
The second victory over CU wasn’t on the field but was more a victory of a coach’s approach to building a team. It’s also a win when comparing how one coach comports himself after wins and losses.
Matt Rhule and Deion Sanders are going to be linked to one another for the foreseeable future for several reasons. They’re both first-year head coaches with their respective teams and both of those teams are trying to put some rather moribund years behind them.
Sanders has made it clear repeatedly that he didn’t like the roster he was handed when he got to Boulder. He’s talked about replacing players several times. He did it again on Saturday night after the Buffaloes fell to 4-4 thanks to a 28-16 loss to UCLA.
When asked his thoughts about the loss in his post-game press conference he wasted no time making it clear he still wants to replace the guys who are giving their all for him every Saturday.
Colorado Football, Coach Prime addresses the O Line, running game issues and keeping Shedeur Sanders upright:
— NoSkoZone (@noskozone) October 29, 2023
"The big picture, you go get new lineman. That's the picture and I'ma paint it perfectly."#WeComing #SkoBuffs pic.twitter.com/qjU1sdkZRA
"“The big picture, you go get new lineman. That’s the picture and I’ma paint it perfectly.”"
Nebraska Football coach shows the better approach
Contrast those comments to anything Rhule has said after a Nebraska Football loss (granted he’s got less of them than Deion). He’s never made a comment that would make you think he’d like to go out and replace a member of his team.
Considering the quarterback play this season, he’d be forgiven if he started dreaming about finding someone else to start taking snaps. However he’s always put the impetus on himself and his coaches, while also making it clear that his players need to play better.
He’s talked about coaching them up and helping them improve. Meanwhile, “Coach Prime” seemingly threw up his hands and decided there’s nothing he can do with the guys playing for him.
Considering the two different coaches’ approaches, is it really a mystery as to why Nebraska Football has gone 5-1 in their last six and Colorado’s only win in their last five games is a come-from-behind victory over a 2-6 Arizona State squad?
Yes, when the two coaches went head-to-head, the Buffs emerged as the victors. But in the long run, I like Nebraska Football’s chances of being the real winners in the coaching derby.