The Nebraska Cornhuskers football program is off the chain, so to speak. They’ve fired Scott Frost. They’re 2-3 overall but their 1-1 1 record technically puts them in a tie for first place in the Big Ten West. And now offensive coordinator Mark Whipple is just letting loose at press conferences to try and motivate his team and the fanbase.
Whipple, who came over from Pitt after last season, spoke with reporters on Tuesday about the team and their upcoming game against Rutgers. He did not hold back when discussing his demeanor at the moment, saying that “When I walk around being a nice guy it just doesn’t work as well as when I’m a d***.”
Salty language aside, Whipple also whipped heads around when he talked about part of his motivation for the offense is that it technically is a first-place team.
Mark Whipple on the #Huskers being in a 6-way tie for the Big Ten West.
"We're good enough…that's the expectation, not just to go to a bowl game but we can win the West." @Channel8ABC pic.twitter.com/1hf6fFIPLL
— Lauren Michelson (@LaurenMichelson) October 4, 2022
“I told them that on Sunday that I was not happy with the way we played. I was happy with the way we finished,” Whipple said. “I told them on Monday that this is reality; we’re in first place. We have a chance, and that’s all we can ask for.
“I don’t know if they really think we can win every game. We’re good enough, I think; I’m not a genius but we can win these games. We already threw away three of them, but that’s the expectation — not just to go to a bowl game but to win the West. You’re in first place, so act like it and play like it.”
The OC also talked about how he’s trying to coach starting quarterback Casey Thompson, who made some critical errors in Sunday’s win over Indiana.
“Your job’s to score touchdowns, and we go three plays for 70 yards, and then you start making mistakes, so my frustration was taken out on Casey,” Whipple said. “He knows that I love him, and you can’t do that with everybody but he handled it really well and responded. My expectations seem at times to be higher than our guys that are playing, and that’s frustrating to me.”
While Nebraska is a bit of a laughing stock in college football circles these days, Whipple’s comments certainly garnered some interesting reactions around the college football world.
About Sean Keeley
Along with writing for Awful Announcing and The Comeback, Sean is the Managing Editor for Comeback Media. Previously, he created the Syracuse blog Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician and wrote 'How To Grow An Orange: The Right Way to Brainwash Your Child Into Rooting for Syracuse.' He has also written non-Syracuse-related things for SB Nation, Curbed, and other outlets. He currently lives in Seattle where he is complaining about bagels. Send tips/comments/complaints to sean@thecomeback.com.