Nebraska needs an Alpha….

The more I watch a Rhule coached program the less convinced I am that we will ever have a coaching or development advantage. Instead, we just need to pay a shitload of money to get better players.

There’s no such thing as an “alpha” either in humans or animals and this has been wildly debunked as poor science. If you mean you’d like a leader who is unfazed by adversity, then I agree. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/is-the-alpha-wolf-idea-a-myth/

Bring back, Bo!

OldFisherman said:

Bring back, Bo!

Bo’s ability with Rhule’s demeanor…..

OldFisherman said:

Bring back, Bo!

huskernkc said:

Bo’s ability with Rhule’s demeanor…..

33-28 at Youngstown. You might want to reconsider. Looks like the game passed him by. He was 67-27 at NU thanks to Callahan's talent, but left the cupboard pretty bare for Riley..

Definitely do. The only alpha I honestly see is the freshman 93.

PleasantHusker said:

There’s no such thing as an “alpha” either in humans or animals and this has been wildly debunked as poor science. If you mean you’d like a leader who is unfazed by adversity, then I agree. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/is-the-alpha-wolf-idea-a-myth/

Lots of keyboard alphas on this site.

Already gunning for message board geniuses ‘26. I like it.

NordakotaHusker said:

33-28 at Youngstown. You might want to reconsider. Looks like the game passed him by. He was 67-27 at NU thanks to Callahan's talent, but left the cupboard pretty bare for Riley..

His team was in the National Championship game at Youngstown. You mean that bare cupboard that allowed Riley to go 7-0?

PleasantHusker said:

There’s no such thing as an “alpha” either in humans or animals and this has been wildly debunked as poor science. If you mean you’d like a leader who is unfazed by adversity, then I agree. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/is-the-alpha-wolf-idea-a-myth/

Do you feel better making sure we all understand the science behind this??

CoachLou said:

His team was in the National Championship game at Youngstown. You mean that bare cupboard that allowed Riley to go 7-0?

His records at Youngstown were 5-6, 12-4, 6-5, 4-7 and 6-6. Nothing to write home about obviously.

H2Oman said:

Lots of keyboard alphas on this site.

It's easy for them to be alphas when no one knows their name and they can hide behind the screen.

PleasantHusker said:

There’s no such thing as an “alpha” either in humans or animals and this has been wildly debunked as poor science. If you mean you’d like a leader who is unfazed by adversity, then I agree. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/is-the-alpha-wolf-idea-a-myth/

Did you read the article you shared? It’s pushing back on the idea of a “alpha wolf”, not the term alpha and how it’s used in the societal lexicon…..

GoBigRed said:

The more I watch a Rhule coached program the less convinced I am that we will ever have a coaching or development advantage. Instead, we just need to pay a shitload of money to get better players.

Absolutely. He’s not going to outcoach you on game day. Our only shot is superior talent.

PleasantHusker said:

There’s no such thing as an “alpha” either in humans or animals and this has been wildly debunked as poor science. If you mean you’d like a leader who is unfazed by adversity, then I agree. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/is-the-alpha-wolf-idea-a-myth/

It’s semantics. There are absolutely humans that are by personality more assertive and aggressive than others.

PleasantHusker said:

There’s no such thing as an “alpha” either in humans or animals and this has been wildly debunked as poor science. If you mean you’d like a leader who is unfazed by adversity, then I agree. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/is-the-alpha-wolf-idea-a-myth/

This is some new aged soft BS and just more de-masculation. If a subordinate male wolf from the pack decides to get out of line the alpha kicks his ass immediately. Alpha/leader/etc are accurate descriptions. Sorry you and the idiotic writer of that article think alpha means bloodthirsty killing machine or violence at all. Shvt I don't think ive even seen the top "alpha" guys i know even raise their voice much less some kind of "alphas rule with fear" types of shit.

huskernkc said:

Bo’s ability with Rhule’s demeanor…..

Only if we can have Callies Talent eval and recruiting with a coked up Carl calling the D

Rhule seems to have embraced the outside perspective of Nebraska as a fundamental reality and decided to work incrementally within that framework to change and improve it. Cignetti, from day one, rejected the outside narrative of Indiana and decided to establish his own reality, demanding that everyone within the program carry it out immediately. One program projects some progress but also a lot of insecurity. The other has established itself and exudes absolute confidence.

4TheBoyz said:

Rhule seems to have embraced the outside perspective of Nebraska as a fundamental reality and decided to work incrementally within that framework to change and improve it. Cignetti, from day one, rejected the outside narrative of Indiana and decided to establish his own reality, demanding that everyone within the program carry it out immediately. One program projects some progress but also a lot of insecurity. The other has established itself and exudes absolute confidence.

Fascinating perspective and definitely thought provoking. I’ve been wrestling for awhile with Rhule’s approach of putting the cart before the horse or in his mind, building the infrastructure now so that when it hits on the field, it’s buoy around and it’s ready to go. But you have to win on the field, for the big house you built to make sense. Rhule is trying to point to progress (back to back 7 win seasons) as progress but in the eye of the beholder, that’s up for debate. He’s also, if you’ve listened to what he said, has sort of dismissed Cignetti’s success because Cignetti got to bring a large portion of his JMU team with him and of course as Rhule pointed out, he couldn’t bring McCaffery with him from Carolina. Rhule needs to figure out the best path forward but it should start with figuring out who is first.

OldFisherman said:

Bring back, Bo!

Bobots never die!

BrandonAlbert said:

Watching these Playoff games, most of (probably all of) these teams have head coaches that are very visibly alpha males. I highly doubt you’ll catch Dan Lanning and Cignetti on a zip line, hosting weekly podcast named after themselves, etc. Nebraska needs a head coach who oozes confidence on the sidelines and in their decisions as head coach…. Not a beta who looks petrified when the camera pans to him on the sideline, and has been grasping at straws with staff moves every offseason…. I think we all know how this tenure ends, unfortunately the university has itself in a financial bind with Rhule’s contract, so we’re going to have to watch it play all the way out.

100%!!!! Did you see the pre Christmas video where BIG 10 coaches were asked "what other BIG 10 coach would you send a Christmas card to?" Most said, "No one." Lovable Matt Rhule said he'd send a Christmas Card to his buddy, P. J. Fleck. :rolleyes:

PleasantHusker said:

There’s no such thing as an “alpha” either in humans or animals and this has been wildly debunked as poor science. If you mean you’d like a leader who is unfazed by adversity, then I agree. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/is-the-alpha-wolf-idea-a-myth/

Well Rhule is definitely a Beta Male given how he constantly is apologizing for stupid shit he says or does.

PleasantHusker said:

There’s no such thing as an “alpha” either in humans or animals and this has been wildly debunked as poor science. If you mean you’d like a leader who is unfazed by adversity, then I agree. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/is-the-alpha-wolf-idea-a-myth/

^^^beta

Thanks for all of the engagement on my post-I appreciate the in-depth discussions it has generated. I’m going to spend some time in quiet reflection on this and I’ll hit the the gym a few hours a day and go and watch Roadhouse and Full Metal Jacket a few times to really channel my inner alpha and rise above my beta status. But seriously, there are leaders and followers for certain, and great leaders lead by example, have character, bravery, and accountability. They care for those they lead and are unflinching in times of crisis. They are not the loudest, and rarely the biggest. Their strength comes from their ability to motivate others towards common goals, not dominate or scare others into submission. Those that follow them have trust in the leader that the leader has earned.