Nebraska football fans should prepare for very few changes before USC

The last time the Nebraska football team lost, the attitude around the program was pretty upbeat. The Huskers almost knocked off Ohio State, and it looked like they were preparing to clinch a bowl bid. Things are different this morning.

Cornhusker fans are angry. Many of them, myself included, are angry for the first time during the Matt Rhule era. That might not sound like much, considering that era isn’t even two full years, but it’s important. Because when Husker fans get angry, impatience is amplified.

And it’s not as though there wasn’t impatience among Nebraska football fans before an inexcusable loss to a decent but far-from-great UCLA squad. Quite a bit of that impatience is aimed squarely at offensive coordinator Marcus Satterfield. It's far from the first time that’s happened.

Nebraska football fans shouldn’t expect changes this week

Marcus Satterfield has been a punching bag of Husker fans since he walked onto campus. Sometimes, that’s been warranted; other times, it hasn’t. But the pressure will ramp up, considering there are two weeks to go until NU plays USC.

And while there will be more calls from fans and more articles written than usual about the unimaginative playcalling, there won’t be a change in the building. Were online gambling allowed in Nebraska, I’d bet my mortgage on that.

And while there will be more open calls from Satterfield to be fired, he won’t be. He probably won’t have playcalling taken away from him either. And it’s not just because Rhule has been loyal to Satterfield to a fault.

There’s also an issue with whoever would replace him. Sure, some Husker fans will claim literally anyone would be better, but that’s not how this actually works. Glenn Thomas would be the obvious replacement should Satterfield be relieved of duty. But is Thomas an improvement?

Thomas’ main role with the Nebraska football team is tutoring Dylan Raiola as the quarterbacks coach. Raiola threw his first touchdown pass since September 28 yesterday. He paired that with his 6th interception since that same period. He’s also completed less than 52% of his passes twice in the last four games.

I’m not convinced that Thomas has helped the true freshman grow throughout the season. There’s also an “improved passer,” Heinrich Haarberg, who was 2-for-7 on Saturday and threw an interception that wasn’t totally his fault but was not a great throw or a great decision.

All of this is anecdotal. But the main point is this. Nebraska football fans are almost certainly hoping Matt Rhule will use the bye to change things up. He won’t. When the season is over, he might. He should. But that’s a discussion for later in the year.