It has been a rough go of things for Nebraska and Matt Rhule. They had a fourth-quarter lead against Indiana, but allowed two late touchdowns, losing the game 20-17. The Cornhuskers then blew another lead the next week. Oregon put up 11 points in the fourth quarter to beat Nebraska 17-14. It happened again this week. Nebraska led 7-3 going into the fourth, but a pick-six by Washington turned the game with just 1:15 left, as Nebraska lost 17-10.
Now, Nebraska has lost three straight, and Rhule is having to deal with more than just losses, as fans are taking out frustration on his family, per Daniel Hager of On3.
“A guy walked up to my 13-year-old daughter and was like, ‘F-U and F your dad.’ I’m not going to keep coaching if it means my kids grow up screwed up,” Rhule said. “I said to my daughter, ‘If daddy’s gotta retire, if I have retire because I don’t want you guys growing up in that environment…”
Rhule later added that his ten-year-old daughter convinced him not to quit his job.
“I’m not leaving,” he continued. “I’m not quitting. I’m fighting for those people. For the people who are listening to the game while they’re on a combine [harvester]. We are going to fight for those people. But please don’t ever question how hard these kids are working or how hard these coaches are working or how hard I’m working.”
Rhule has been a head coach since 2013. He coached four years at Temple, taking them from a two-win team to a contender in the American. He then coached three years at Baylor, leading them to the Sugar Bowl. Rhule would spend three seasons with the Carolina Panthers, not finding success, before heading to Nebraska in 2023. He is 24-22 as the head coach of the Cornhuskers.
Nebraska will look to get back in the win column on Friday night as they visit Illinois.