Nebraska
Nebraska man seriously injured after being hit by semi near Columbus
LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – A man was flown to a Lincoln hospital Friday after being hit by a semitrailer near Columbus.
The Platte County Sheriff’s Office responded around 10:30 a.m. to a crash on Highway 81, just south of Columbus.
A 29-year-old Osceola man stepped into the northbound lanes in front of a semi, according to the sheriff’s office.
The man was taken to Columbus Community Hospital. He was later flown to a Lincoln hospital with internal injuries, the sheriff’s office said.
Alcohol was not a factor in the crash.
An investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to call the sheriff’s office at 402-564-3229 or Platte County Area Crime Stoppers at 402-563-4000.
Nebraska
Matt Rhule addresses Nebraska’s spring game, special teams, revenue sharing
LINCOLN, Neb. — In his first meeting with the media since the aftermath of Nebraska’s victory in the Pinstripe Bowl, coach Matt Rhule answered questions for 30 minutes Saturday. He could have gone an hour before the topics might have grown stale.
An illustration of the abundance of business to address: The name of Nebraska’s returning starter at quarterback, Dylan Raiola, was not mentioned until the final two minutes.
Dana Holgorsen, the offensive coordinator who received a two-year contract after his trial run at the end of 2024? Not mentioned. John Butler, the defensive coordinator elevated in December from secondary coach, came up one time in passing.
Developments continued Sunday as interior offensive lineman Rocco Spindler, a 23-game starter at Notre Dame, gave Nebraska its 16th portal commitment.
Rhule No. 1: Run the Damn Ball pic.twitter.com/tjuRbhlmde
— Rocco Spindler (@RoccoSpindler92) February 2, 2025
Rhule came off the road late last week to celebrate his 50th birthday Friday and squeezed the Q&A session into his morning before he rushed away to welcome a group of approximately 20 prospects to campus for a recruiting event.
The third-year coach was operating on perhaps a half tank of fuel. His fatigued voice told the story of his five-week schedule since the football season ended.
“We’re not going to win here without working,” Rhule said.
The next two weeks afford a bit of downtime for Rhule and his staff. But there is a stack of pressing matters before Nebraska starts spring practice in late March.
Here’s a rundown of three key topics addressed by Rhule on Saturday — with a dose of perspective:
The cancellation of Nebraska’s spring game appears imminent
What Rhule said: “Fundamentally, I hate to say it like this, but it’s really because last year, we were one of the more televised spring games, and I dealt with a lot of people offering our players a lot of opportunities after that. So to go out and bring in a bunch of new players and then showcase them for all the other schools to watch, that doesn’t make a lot of sense to me. The word ‘tampering’ doesn’t exist anymore, it’s just absolute free, open, common market. And so I don’t necessarily want to open up to the outside world. I don’t want these guys all being able to watch our guys and say, ‘Wow, he looks like a pretty good player. Let’s go get him.’”
Perspective: This storyline blew up on social media and in the news cycle during a quiet weekend on the football calendar, but there’s more to know than simply that Nebraska looks set to cancel its traditional, open-to-the-public scrimmage at the end of spring practice.
Nebraska athletic director Troy Dannen made an announcement last week about the spring game. It didn’t cause an uproar, but Rhule fanned the flames with his comments on tampering. How much the Huskers fended off bids to poach their roster after the spring last year, we don’t know. But just six players entered the portal last spring at Nebraska — two who had left the program months earlier, two walk-ons who didn’t land at Division I schools and two reserves from 2023 who would have likely played similar roles in 2024.
Rhule has grown frustrated, like many coaches, with the rampant tampering that exists in the sport. A televised spring game does little to impact the toxic climate. But Rhule used his stage Saturday to lament the prevalence of roster interference.
Notably, Nebraska will still hold an event at the end of its April practice sessions. It will invite fans. They will show up. And a newly imagined spring showcase might provide more entertainment value than a spring game, which typically lacks substance.
Spring games are dying across college football. For some schools — not Nebraska — it’s because they lose money. For others, a spring game no longer makes sense in this era of NIL, revenue sharing and the portal. Put Nebraska into that category.
Interesting explanation from Matt Rhule on how Nebraska will structure the 105-man roster.
He said the Huskers will treat the first 57 like an active NFL roster. The next 38 will be pieced together like a second group, with an eye on keeping numbers balanced by position.
The…
— Mitch Sherman (@mitchsherman) February 1, 2025
Nebraska is in a better place than most ahead of revenue sharing
What Rhule said: “We don’t take money from the (university). This is all through our budget. So it’s sustainable. A lot of other schools, rev share’s not going to be sustainable. So they can float a big number now and disappoint a kid later. We feel like we can stand on business. This is what we said, and this is what we’re going to do.”
Perspective: Rhule said he talks to coaches at other Power 4 programs who’ve not yet raised half of the $14 million they’re expecting to pay football players in the first year of revenue sharing, which is expected to begin July 1. Nebraska has no such concerns. And it has fewer concerns in years ahead about meeting the increased cost than nearly all of its Big Ten rivals that also benefit from gaudy TV payouts.
The Huskers intend to use this strong financial position to their advantage. “I think we all saw in the College Football Playoff,” Rhule said, “the people who spent the most got the most. I’ve been saying that since I got here. It’s kinda real, right?”
Not only can Nebraska tout that it’s prepared to pay well without concerns about sustainability, Rhule said, but its players also benefit from a support system that helps them manage resources.
“I think it’s important for people to see what we do,” Rhule said. “You guys walk through the parking lot. You don’t see Lamborghinis and Ferraris. Our guys are investing in their futures and taking care of people back home.
Special teams remain unsettled
What Rhule said: “I’m always very protective of our players, but I’ll be quite honest … I don’t think anything we did was wrong schematically last year. I think a lot of our problems stemmed from the snapper position. And once that happens, you’re trying to compensate for things. And I love those guys, but it just was not a good year from that perspective.
“You think about scheme. You think about all these things. But really at the end of the day, it comes down to technique and fundamentals. When something at the very core is not right, then the elements all around it aren’t right.”
Perspective: If Rhule sings the same tune after spring practice alongside a yet-to-be-hired new special teams coordinator, I’ll see more cause for concern. In the first week of February, the coach deserves to receive the benefit of the doubt, having just finished a whirlwind two months of recruiting in the portal and at the high school level while reshaping his coaching staff.
Rhule has handed control of vetting candidates to run special teams to Phil Snow, his longtime confidante and new associate head coach. With the support of Snow and Rhule, time exists for the next coordinator to lead the “overhaul” of special teams that Rhule said he sought after last season.
Undeniably, Nebraska’s problems at long snapper led to some — but not all — of the breakdowns that allowed opponents to block eight kicks in 2024. The long snapper wasn’t on the field when a botched punt return swung momentum in the second half against Iowa. The long snapper didn’t design or call Nebraska’s ill-fated fake field goal near the goal line against Boston College. The Huskers ranked no higher than 92nd nationally in returning and covering punts and kickoffs.
“I don’t think we can put any more time into it in terms of practice,” Rhule said. “I don’t think we can put any more time into it in terms of meetings.”
But the Huskers can make better use of the time they spend on special teams. They can get more of the top players on the team invested in it.
Rhule said he views special teams as an aspect that can be “net neutral” or that can sway the outcome of games toward winning or losing. Nebraska lost games last year and in 2023 because of poor special teams play. In this Big Ten environment, with so many contests for Nebraska decided by one score — 13 of 25 in two seasons under Rhule — it needs a net positive from special teams.
Rhule is leaning on Snow to help in this first phase of improvement.
“I think you guys will find that I trust Phil immensely,” Rhule said, “because it always goes back to the same core values of technique, fundamentals, effort, preparation, just looking at things from that perspective.”
(Photo: Dylan Widger / Imagn Images)
Nebraska
The Weekender: Nebraska Considers Spring Game Cancelation, John Calipari Returns To Kentucky and Tempers Flare Between Arizona and Arizona State
Own the group chat with The Weekender, highlighting the biggest stories in college sports, standout writing from Eleven Warriors, and a glance at what’s next.
NEBRASKA CONSIDERS SPRING GAME CANCELATION
With the increased prevalence of tampering in college football, Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule has a unique plan to keep eyes off of his players: cancel the spring game.
“The word ‘tampering’ doesn’t exist anymore,” Rhule said. “It’s just a free open common market. I don’t necessarily want to open up to the outside world and have people watch our guys and say, ‘He looks like a pretty good player. Let’s go get him.’”
While Rhule’s decision could potentially lead to fewer transfers from the program when the spring transfer window opens, it would lose the university a large sum of revenue typically generated from the game. Nebraska’s Spring Game in 2024 drew 60,452 fans to Memorial Stadiums, the fourth-highest total attendance from spring games last season.
But, Rhule’s primary focus remains on keeping his players in Lincoln by all means necessary.
“Guys are being compensated now, and you’re putting money behind some people, a whole other set of parameters,” Rhule said. “Yet, at the same time, you have to get good. Honestly, to me, it’s about protecting the roster and protecting through that portal period.”
CALIPARI RETURNS TO KENTUCKY
In 15 seasons as the head coach of Kentucky, John Calipari elevated the program into a perennial national title contender.
With an overall record of 410-123, four Final Four appearances, and the 2012 national championship, Calipari was considered Kentucky royalty up until just last year. But, times have changed.
After a steady decline across his last few seasons with the Wildcats, Calipari took the head coaching job at Arkansas during the offseason. On Saturday, the legendary head coach returned to Rupp Arena for the first time.
Facing a hostile environment from a fanbase that he once called his own, with boos and jeers hurdled his direction, Calipari ultimately handed his former team a stunning loss, as his Razorbacks took care of business in an 89-79 decision. Arkansas was led by a trio of former Wildcats, as Adou Thiero (21 points), D.J. Wagner (17 points) and Zvonimir Ivasic (14 points) pushed the Razorbacks to the win.
“I’ve got to be honest with you: I looked up a couple of times [at the scoreboard], and I thought we were losing because I kept looking at Kentucky instead of Arkansas,” Calipari said. “I made it clear it was a privilege and an honor to coach here. We had 15 unbelievable years of a great run and support.”
TEMPERS FLARE BETWEEN ARIZONA AND ARIZONA STATE
The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree when it comes to the Hurley family.
Arizona State head coach Bobby Hurley — brother of UConn coach Dan Hurley — had some words for rival Arizona after a testy finish in the Wildcats’ rivalry 81-72 win over the Sun Devils in Tempe, Arizona.
Constant trash talk throughout Saturday’s contest came to a head late in the game. With less than a minute to play, Sun Devil guard BJ Freeman head-butted Arizona’s Caleb Love — resulting in both players being ejected after Love taunted the Arizona State bench in the aftermath.
BJ Freeman headbutts Caleb Love and BOTH are ejected pic.twitter.com/hlwjDdXHIA
— The Field of 68 (@TheFieldOf68) February 1, 2025
As a result of the late-game altercation, Hurley decided to pull his team from the post-game handshake line. In his post-game press conference, Hurley criticized the Wildcats for boasting after the win.
“Right near our bench, it was relentless, constant chatter from a couple of Arizona’s players that wasn’t being policed properly,” Hurley said. “Of course, they’re going to be happy with winning, but it was done with no class, in my opinion.”
Hurley also alluded to the fact that he would refuse to vote for Love for All-Big 12.
More Bobby Hurley, with a parting shot for Caleb Love:
“I get a vote for Big 12 All-Conference, and I can tell you who’s not getting my vote”pic.twitter.com/AFC6R19tHr
— The Field of 68 (@TheFieldOf68) February 1, 2025
The Wildcats and Sun Devils will meet again on March 4 in Tuscon, Arizona.
ICYMI
THE BUCKEYE 20: RANKING THE 20 BEST PLAYERS FROM OHIO STATE’S 2024 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP SEASON
The Eleven Warriors staff compiled its final list of the 20 best players from Ohio State’s national championship team in 2024.
EIGHT POTENTIAL CANDIDATES TO REPLACE JUSTIN FRYE AS OHIO STATE’S OFFENSIVE LINE COACH
Eleven Warriors’ Dan Hope analyzes potential candidates to fill the void left by Justin Frye’s departure from Ohio State.
HOW WE CHOOSE TO REMEMBER
Eleven Warriors’ George Eisner reflects on Ohio State’s recent stretch of quarterbacks.
WHAT’S NEXT
- 209 Days: Ohio State football’s season-opener vs. Texas
- 300 Days: The Game
Nebraska
Head Coach Matt Rhule Has An Interesting Reason Why Nebraska Football Is Unlikely To Have A Spring Game
It’s February, which means we’re getting closer and closer to college football games.
Who doesn’t love a first look at your team to get you through the doldrums of the offseason?
Well, unfortunately, if you’re a Nebraska Cornhuskers fan, it looks like that may not be a thing for you, at least if head coach Matt Rhule’s latest comments are to be believed.
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KETV’s Lauren Michelson shared some footage of Rhule answering a question about a spring game, with the coach saying that he “highly doubts” it’ll happen.
And his reasoning might surprise you…
“I don’t know that yet, but I’ll be honest with you. I highly doubt it,” Rhule said about the future of the spring game. “I hate to say this, but last year we were one of the more televised spring games and I dealt with a lot of people offering our players a lot of opportunities after that.
“To go out and bring in a bunch of new players and then showcase them for all the other schools to watch, that doesn’t make a lot of sense to me.”
Rhule continued by saying that “tampering” no longer exists so he’s hesitant to give other programs a glimpse at some of his players.
“The word ‘tampering’ doesn’t exist anymore,” Rhule said. “It’s just an absolute free open common market. I don’t necessarily want to open up to the outside world. I don’t (want) these guys all being able to watch our guys and say, ‘Wow, he looks like a pretty good player. Let’s go get him.’ “
Alright… but then why televise any games, coach?
Well, surely these comments will go over well with Nebraska fans…
It’ll be interesting to see if Rhule follows through with this because the mere mention of skipping a spring game certainly hasn’t been particularly popular.
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