After blowing a 17-6 fourth-quarter lead against Indiana, many Nebraska fans are unhappy that the Huskers had to settle for another moral victory. Does it help the fanbase that head coach Matt Rhule also won't accept “close” as a balm for the soul?
Rhule said at Monday’s press conference that he wants his team to move forward after the 20-17 loss. He said he doesn't want the team angry, but he also doesn’t want them content with almost winning.
“Yeah, I think that's kind of what I said to them yesterday. Like, hey, it's over. It's over.
We had our chance in that game, but we're going to have more chances, right?” Rhule said in his weekly press conference leading up to Nebraska’s showdown against Oregon.
Matt Rhule says Nebraska football cannot live in the world of being “close” after Indiana loss
“Don't live in a world of, ‘Oh, that was really good. We were close.’ Don't live in that world because you do that, man, you're a loser. We don't do that. And then don't live in a world of ‘if only,' because none of that works.”
Rhule then laid out what he thinks: if players start thinking too much about the loss, they’ll essentially be paralyzed when the next big moment comes. He added that Nebraska coaches have tried to consistently tell players they need to move on from a game, win or lose, and not dwell on either outcome.
“I certainly don't want a team that's okay with Saturday. And I certainly don't want a team that blames other people for Saturday. I want a team that says, like, “What else could I have done?” And then I can move on. We can get ready for this week.
I don't think we'll have any lingering effects from Saturday into this week.”
Earlier in the press conference, Rhule talked about the “what could have been” situations against Indiana that would have led to a win. Obviously, the two completely uncovered touchdown passes in th fourth quarter by the Hoosiers were big on the list. However, he also said the Nebraska offense was just a step or two away from breaking a reverse for a big gain. Another pass play ended up incomplete. He believes that if it had been completed, it would have been a touchdown.
Had either play gone Nebraska’s way, the Huskers could have won their first game over a Top 25 team in years. Instead, Matt Rhule wants his team to leave Indiana behind and focus entirely on Oregon.
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