Nebraska’s HC Matt Rhule calls out refs after beating Northwestern

Nebraska’s football team entered the week already faced with tough decisions before kickoff. Senior defensive back Malcolm Hartzog will undergo season-ending surgery and will redshirt after appearing in just two games this season. Head coach Matt Rhule framed the move as prioritizing Hartzog’s long-term health, with an eye toward preserving eligibility through the 2026 season, according to On3.

The Huskers’ secondary will lose a proven contributor for the 2024 campaign. While a potential bowl appearance could provide Hartzog with some late-season playing time, his regular season is officially over.

Despite this setback, Nebraska handled its business on the field against Northwestern. However, postgame discussions quickly shifted to concerns about officiating. When asked about a pivotal fourth-down sequence where it appeared the Wildcats might have come up short, Rhule expressed frustration over the lack of clear communication from the officiating crew.

“I was told nothing. I was more worried about Troy [Dannen], trying to calm Troy down. The guys on my side were communicating, but they didn’t come over and tell me. I’m looking it up there [on the video board]. I saw him bobble it. Then they said, oh, the buzzer wasn’t working. If they had run that play, I would’ve been really upset. So I challenged it, then they said, ‘No, they buzzed it down.’ But it looked like the ball went up in the air, but I’m going to stay away from that one,” Rhule said.

He added, “It’s a great thing for me when you have an AD that is fiery. Right is right, wrong is wrong. And we didn’t get many breaks today, I’ll just leave it at that.”

This frustration highlighted a familiar theme: control what you can, but speak up when the process breaks down. Between the questionable buzz-down, the bobble seen on the video board, and a sideline focused on keeping the athletic director composed in real time, Rhule’s critique targeted not just a single spot, but the overall mechanics and clarity of officiating communication.

Amid the noise, the program’s priorities remain clear and steady. Quarterback Dylan Raiola publicly addressed speculation linking Rhule to the Penn State head coaching vacancy following James Franklin’s departure. “He ain’t going nowhere,” Raiola told On3’s Pete Nakos, emphasizing that the head coach is fully committed and that outside chatter does not distract the team.

Putting it all together, Nebraska’s football week told a clear story: secure the win, absorb the impact of a significant injury, and demand better communication from officials. The next step for the Huskers is to channel that intensity into cleaner execution as the schedule grows more challenging.
https://clutchpoints.com/ncaa-football/nebraska-football-news-matt-rhule-calls-out-refs-after-beating-northwestern

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