A lot of pressure will be on Dylan Raiola this fall. Many are expecting the freshman to start for the Nebraska Huskers, a program that has become synonymous with finding embarrassing ways to lose. That can be a lot for any college athlete, let alone a legacy player. His high school play earned him notoriety and national attention.
The QB also draws comparisons to Patrick Mahomes, not just for his mannerisms and hairstyle, but also for his skill set and how he plays the position. That being said, fair or not, assuming he wins the preseason camp battle, he will have the hopes of an entire state and its fan base on his shoulders. Luckily, Matt Rhule is a coach who has a history of meeting and exceeding expectations while simultaneously diving headfirst into the pools of adversity.
As seen by a clip shared by Rhuler of Husker Nation on X, the coach knows what's at stake, but more importantly, knows the best path to overcome the many obstacles that have plagued this program. Fans can hear the passion with which he's demanding players build a culture of winning through consistent habits. The quote that many are excited about is:
You can't change your shot with the game on the line.
This speaks a lot to what's gone wrong with Nebraska in particular and how organizations, even outside of sports, can often fail. It does little good to have posters or motivational speeches about doing things well and asking for buy-in alone. At the end of the day, people who put in an honest effort and who look to improve will win out.
Too many Ra-Ra catchphrases, empty platitudes, and ineffective output seem to be commonplace in modern productivity circles. Or worse, effective inaction by placating unthought-out ideas or sticking with the status quo just for the sake of it leads to a rut and people working on a project knowing that their efforts are ultimately going toward nothing.
This is why when coach Rhule takes the time to remind and reestablish his standard, it's for more than just the cameras. He's reminding players of how true victory is achieved while at the same time addressing what has led to a culture of losing in past years and his first year with Nebraska.
Lifetime build-up for Dylan Raiola
There will be a lot to overcome for all Huskers this season. But it's possible that the most important tandem of the man in charge and Dylan Raiola could be enough to breathe legitimate aspirations into Lincoln. As mentioned, a lot will hinge most likely on the highly recruited quarterback in his first year as a college student-athlete. But when you have someone whose father snapped the ball to Matthew Stafford and the Super Bowl winner is your godfather, this is a connection that others do not have.
Not that the family ties mean much, but what the Pro Bowler said rings beyond a hollow compliment. As discussed on Pardon My Take, Stafford knows what an elite mindset and what a winner looks like, and he sees similar successful traits from the former Buford high school player. The freshman may be the best positioned, to not only deal with what is seen by many as a great game day experience, including BetMaryland.com, but this also includes the angst that can be felt whenever something goes wrong.
Nebraska fans are faithful and are known for supporting the team and traveling not just for football but all sports related to the university. However, it's understandable that at this point, if there's an early interception or a close game late, the tension and collective holding of breath can be felt.
This is why the approach from coach Rhule and the preparation of Dylan Raiola are the only antidotes for what has been multiple poor seasons. Moreover, this current roster is in a great position to not only turn around the program at Memorial Stadium but to set themselves up to start making noise again at the national level.
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