Huskers AD praises new Nebraska Football OC in unprecedented midseason move

Count Nebraska Cornhuskers Athletic Director among those who are big fans of new offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen. 

That’s probably not a surprise. It’s not like the AD was going to say publicly he disagreed with head coach Matt Rhule. But Troy Dannen’s appreciation for Holgorsen doesn’t seem to be an act.

Dannen appeared on Big Red Wrapup earlier this week and talked a bit about how much he knows about the former West Virginia and Houston head coach. He also talkd about how unusual this entire situation is for the Nebraska football team.

Nebraska Football has a good one and a unique situation

“I've known Dana for a while,” Dannen said. “Not in the same capacity that Matt has.  And I love Dana.  We played against him when I was at Tulane.  He was at Houston.  And I know the regard my coach had for going up against his offense.”

While his team played Dana’s a couple of times, he also knows him personally a bit.  

“I spent a little time with him personally, and I like him a lot personally.  So I was thrilled when Matt decided to make the move, and it sure feels like we got the right guy.”

Regarding how odd it is that Holgorsen is taking over with just three weeks to go in the season, he understands the Cornhuskers are on untread ground.

“Yeah, you know, I was talking to a few people the last couple of days, and no one can recite a time when a coordinator on either side of the ball got let go and was replaced by someone from the outside in season, particularly in Week 9 or Week 10.”  

“So it's unusual.  However, I think the fact that I was able to do that, the fact that you have a guy who’s been a head coach multiple places and been around the game, and a guy like Matt who's experienced, you know, everything aligns for why it can happen.”

Dannen added that he thinks plenty of people in the sport will watch how it works with the Nebraska football program. And if it works at all.