Husker Doc Talk

Matt Rhule is trying to save his job. After another disappointing loss, the Huskers' fourth straight setback, Rhule makes his first survival move, firing Offensive Coordinator Dana Holgorsen. But will this change be enough for Rhule to survive another late-season collapse? On this edition of the Husker Doc Talk Podcast, presented by Strategic Solutions Sanitation, Travis Justice and former Husker Dr. Rob Zatechka discuss how hot the seat is for Rhule and Athletic Director Troy Dannen.  You might be asking why Dannen? Well, the contract extension given to Rhule last year is looking like one of the biggest mistakes ever made. It was a knee-jerk reaction to rumors about Rhule leaving for Penn State, with no facts to back it up. Also, the stadium renovation project and the price tag for fans watching an average-at-best, or below-average, football team. People are willing to pay for value; right now, fans aren't seeing it. Now in his fourth year, Rhule is not delivering. Still no wins over teams ranked in the top 25, and another mid- and late-season collapse.  Dr. Rob is adamant that Nebraska has plenty of talent to compete at a high level. The Huskers' lack of an identity is purely a coaching problem. With three games left, Rhule is making changes to try to get back on track. Will it be enough? One thing he has going for him is that Nebraska would have to pay him $63 million to cut him loose.  A high price tag may buy him another season, but if Nebraska keeps losing, does it cost more in the long run?  Be sure to subscribe on YouTube and favorite the show on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, iHeartRadio, or wherever you listen so you never miss an episode! If you like this podcast, please support  our sponsors who make this all possible: Strategic Solutions Sanitation The food safety and contract sanitation experts built by industry veterans. They deliver 100% legal compliance, audit-ready performance, and elite sanitation for processing facilities nationwide. Stop worrying about your next audit; learn more at Strategic Solutions Sanitation. Orr Law Group Life throws legal challenges at all of us — and when it does, you need a team that's trusted, respected, and proven. Orr Law Group provides expert legal representation with a client-first approach, specializing in personal injury, workers' compensation, family matters, and more. When you need clear guidance and strong advocacy, the Orr Law Group is in your corner. Learn more at www.orrlawgrp.com. Husker Hounds Whether it's game day, bowl season, or the long wait until spring practice, Husker Hounds is your go-to source for the best Nebraska gear. Jerseys, hoodies, hats, collectibles — if it's Husker-related, they've got it. Family-owned, locally operated, and serving Husker Nation for decades, Husker Hounds helps you show your Nebraska pride year-round. Shop online at www.huskerhounds.com.    

This week's Husker Doc Talk Podcast, presented by Strategic Solutions Sanitation, has former Husker Dr. Rob Zatechka fired up! The only thing hotter than Dr. Rob is Matt Rhule's seat! Washington 17, Nebraska 10. The Huskers blow a fourth-quarter lead for the 3rd straight week. Nebraska is the only FBS team in the country to lead every game this season going into the fourth quarter. However, when it mattered the most, against Indiana, Oregon, and now Washington, the Huskers come up short and leave a faithful fan base as mad as we've seen since 2007.  How mad are the fans? Well, they started throwing stuff on the field at the end of the game on Saturday. As Dr. Rob points out during the episode, when he played, they threw projectiles on the field; they were oranges to indicate they were going to the Orange Bowl. Now you get the feeling that Husker fans are one more loss away from taking to the streets like the rioters in Paris. Nebraska fans are passionate; there's no doubt. They've finally had enough. They've been asked to be patient; at the same time, they've been asked to give more, and the price tag is going up even higher with the stadium renovation.  Dr. Rob points out that what we've seen this year happens once; you can blow it off. If it happens three games in a row, that is a coaching problem. It starts with Matt Rhule, who, at best, is a middle-of-the-road coach since arriving at Nebraska. But he shouldn't shoulder all the blame. Dana Holgersen, the offensive coordinator, all but abandoned the run in the 3rd quarter against the Huskies, and he relies too much on the quarterback and doesn't do what it takes to win the Big 10: run the football! Full transparency, this episode is more about the state of the program and spends little time talking about the actual game against Washington and the next game against Illinois. For good reason, it's what everyone is talking about.  Be sure to subscribe on YouTube and favorite the show on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, iHeartRadio, or wherever you listen so you never miss an episode! If you like this podcast, please support  our sponsors who make this all possible: Strategic Solutions Sanitation The food safety and contract sanitation experts built by industry veterans. They deliver 100% legal compliance, audit-ready performance, and elite sanitation for processing facilities nationwide. Stop worrying about your next audit; learn more at Strategic Solutions Sanitation. Orr Law Group Life throws legal challenges at all of us — and when it does, you need a team that's trusted, respected, and proven. Orr Law Group provides expert legal representation with a client-first approach, specializing in personal injury, workers' compensation, family matters, and more. When you need clear guidance and strong advocacy, the Orr Law Group is in your corner. Learn more at www.orrlawgrp.com. Husker Hounds Whether it's game day, bowl season, or the long wait until spring practice, Husker Hounds is your go-to source for the best Nebraska gear. Jerseys, hoodies, hats, collectibles — if it's Husker-related, they've got it. Family-owned, locally operated, and serving Husker Nation for decades, Husker Hounds helps you show your Nebraska pride year-round. Shop online at www.huskerhounds.com.

Episode 21 of the Husker Doc Talk Podcast, presented by Strategic Solutions Sanitation, focused on making sense of a chaotic college football weekend while Nebraska enjoyed a bye week, keeping our focus squarely on what lies ahead for the Huskers. We opened the show diving into the absolute madness across the national landscape. Between Scott Frost pulling off an overtime stunner against the number two team in the country, Indiana needing extra time to put away Michigan, and Oregon taking a loss at Illinois, college football is swimming in pure parity. Dr. Rob and Travis Justice debated how the transfer portal and NIL dollars have completely leveled the playing field, making the weekly Top 25 nearly impossible to handicap on any given Saturday, all while the coaching carousel spins with early pink slips at Maryland and Baylor. Turning our attention to the 5-2 Huskers, Rob hit the nail on the head describing fan sentiment as "painful, disappointed optimism." The two strongest, most complete games of the year were narrow, one-score losses to Indiana and Oregon, which makes it tricky to evaluate how close this team really is. On offense, we agreed that while Dana Holgorsen's RPO looks good for Anthony Colandrea, Nebraska cannot survive with the quarterback as the primary ball carrier. The game plan has to be to establish a downhill run game and lean on Jamal Rule (if healthy) to grind defenses down in the second half. What about this week's showdown with Washington? The Huskies have shown flashes of talent, but their glaring inconsistency and lack of quality wins mean we don't know how good this team really is. Earning win number six and securing bowl eligibility is the non-negotiable priority. Rob put his chips on Nebraska by 10, while Travis took the Huskers to cover comfortably with a 17-point win. Be sure to subscribe on YouTube and favorite the show on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, iHeartRadio, or wherever you listen so you never miss an episode! If you like this podcast, please support  our sponsors who make this all possible: Strategic Solutions Sanitation The food safety and contract sanitation experts built by industry veterans. They deliver 100% legal compliance, audit-ready performance, and elite sanitation for processing facilities nationwide. Stop worrying about your next audit; learn more at Strategic Solutions Sanitation. Orr Law Group Life throws legal challenges at all of us — and when it does, you need a team that's trusted, respected, and proven. Orr Law Group provides expert legal representation with a client-first approach, specializing in personal injury, workers' compensation, family matters, and more. When you need clear guidance and strong advocacy, the Orr Law Group is in your corner. Learn more at www.orrlawgrp.com. Husker Hounds Whether it's game day, bowl season, or the long wait until spring practice, Husker Hounds is your go-to source for the best Nebraska gear. Jerseys, hoodies, hats, collectibles — if it's Husker-related, they've got it. Family-owned, locally operated, and serving Husker Nation for decades, Husker Hounds helps you show your Nebraska pride year-round. Shop online at www.huskerhounds.com.

On this episode of the Husker Doc Talk Podcast, presented by Strategic Solutions Sanitation, Travis Justice and former Husker Dr. Rob Zatechka break down the late-night heartbreaker against Oregon and what went wrong in the closing minutes of a game that felt like a wild movie script. A tough one for Big Red faithful to watch as former Husker Dylan Raiola’s came off the bench in the fourth quarter after sitting for three quarters to go 11-of-18 through the air and engineer Oregon’s go-ahead scoring drive. It’s almost like a broken record for the Huskers. We look closely at why Nebraska’s long-standing struggles to finish out high-stakes games go well beyond Raiola, examining how the offense must shoulder more responsibility to sustain drives and put points on the board. The discussion dives deep into a tremendous effort by the Blackshirt defense, which held Oregon to two field goals through three quarters before gassing out under the weight of two massive Oregon possessions totaling 37 plays and nearly thirteen minutes of fourth-quarter clock. From burned defensive timeouts to Anthony Colandrea's gritty performance under pressure and the confusing final play where the offense failed to stop the clock, every critical mistake is put under the microscope.  What we saw throughout college football on Saturday was impressive, thanks to all the upsets. Is there more parity now in college football than ever before? We discuss the proposed 24-team playoff format. We push back against Nick Saban and the so-called traditionalist critics. We believe that a wider playoff bracket doesn't devalue the regular season; it creates high-stakes drama and gives deserving teams a legitimate shot to make a run. Looking ahead to the bye week, what does Nebraska need from the break to get key personnel healed up before a crucial stretch run featuring matchups against Washington, Ohio State, and Iowa? Also, do the Huskers still have a shot at the College Football Playoff with two losses?  Be sure to subscribe on YouTube and favorite the show on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, iHeartRadio, or wherever you listen so you never miss an episode! If you like this podcast, please support  our sponsors who make this all possible: Strategic Solutions Sanitation The food safety and contract sanitation experts built by industry veterans. They deliver 100% legal compliance, audit-ready performance, and elite sanitation for processing facilities nationwide. Stop worrying about your next audit; learn more at Strategic Solutions Sanitation. Orr Law Group Life throws legal challenges at all of us — and when it does, you need a team that’s trusted, respected, and proven. Orr Law Group provides expert legal representation with a client-first approach, specializing in personal injury, workers’ compensation, family matters, and more. When you need clear guidance and strong advocacy, the Orr Law Group is in your corner. Learn more at www.orrlawgrp.com. Husker Hounds Whether it’s game day, bowl season, or the long wait until spring practice, Husker Hounds is your go-to source for the best Nebraska gear. Jerseys, hoodies, hats, collectibles — if it’s Husker-related, they’ve got it. Family-owned, locally operated, and serving Husker Nation for decades, Husker Hounds helps you show your Nebraska pride year-round. Shop online at www.huskerhounds.com.

Nebraska gave Curt Cignetti and the Indiana Hoosiers everything they could handle on the stat sheet, dominating in almost every category, yet still walked off the field with a heartbreaking loss. How do you beat a top-ten squad in almost every single metric and still leave with an L? On this episode of the Husker Doc Talk Podcast, presented by Strategic Solutions Sanitation, Travis Justice and Dr. Rob Zatechka break down the good, the bad, and the downright frustrating from the game with the Hoosiers. The loss means Nebraska has now lost 31 straight games to teams ranked in the Top 25. The last time the Huskers scored an "upset" was in September of 2016. They will get more chances as the season goes on, but Matt Rhule is in desperate need of a signature win.  Speaking of Rhule, were the Huskers outcoached?.  Matt Rhule’s fiery, constant lobbying with the officiating crew helping this football team or hurting it? We dig into coaching composure, comparing Rhule’s sideline demeanor to the stoic, measured approach of Tom Osborne and Iowa’s Kirk Ferentz. Plus, what happened on that fourth-and-one breakdown where Indiana’s receiver was running wide open the second he cleared the line of scrimmage? When you give away big plays, miss field goals, and lose the turnover battle, winning close Big Ten games becomes an uphill climb. There were bright spots. The interior defensive line showed real potential and a glimpse of what's to come against a physical front, with young disruptors stepping up and holding Indiana to a miserable 1-of-10 on third downs. On offense, quarterback Anthony Calandria showed serious playmaking chops with his legs, but Dr. Rob thinks he’s holding onto the ball too long, and absorbing coverage sacks continues to stall drives. Up next for Nebraska, at Oregon. Dan Lanning’s Oregon squad dropped out of the top 25 after stumbling against UCLA, Dylan Raiola got benched during a brutal turnover fest, and the Huskers face a tough road into Eugene for a late-night 10:00 PM kickoff. If you like this podcast, please support  our sponsors who make this all possible: Strategic Solutions Sanitation The food safety and contract sanitation experts built by industry veterans. They deliver 100% legal compliance, audit-ready performance, and elite sanitation for processing facilities nationwide. Stop worrying about your next audit; learn more at Strategic Solutions Sanitation. Orr Law Group Life throws legal challenges at all of us — and when it does, you need a team that’s trusted, respected, and proven. Orr Law Group provides expert legal representation with a client-first approach, specializing in personal injury, workers’ compensation, family matters, and more. When you need clear guidance and strong advocacy, the Orr Law Group is in your corner. Learn more at www.orrlawgrp.com. Husker Hounds Whether it’s game day, bowl season, or the long wait until spring practice, Husker Hounds is your go-to source for the best Nebraska gear. Jerseys, hoodies, hats, collectibles — if it’s Husker-related, they’ve got it. Family-owned, locally operated, and serving Husker Nation for decades, Husker Hounds helps you show your Nebraska pride year-round. Shop online at www.huskerhounds.com.