HCSF seems like a really likable coach. Physically, he looks like he could still play, and he seems to be just one of the guys when he is around his players. From all outside appearances, his players seem to like him. You would think that he would inspire a lot of loyalty.
And yet players keep leaving. It hurt when J.D. left last year because he was such a valuable player, but it was also surprising because he was almost certain to become Nebraska's all-time leading receiver had he stayed. But to me at least, Wandale leaving hurts a lot more. I loved his heart, and he seemed to represent everything that gave me hope for the future of the team. To me, he was in many ways the face of Nebraska football. Put bluntly, seeing him leave is the ultimate gut punch.
I understand that he wanted to be closer to his mother. But couldn't he have taken some time away from the team to be with her while she recovers from COVID-19 and still been back with the team for summer conditioning? More troubling from the perspective of the team, he seemed to not like how he was being used in the offense. I'm having trouble squaring that with my prior impression that he would do whatever he could to help the team. I remember watching how angry he was on the sideline at Purdue in 2019 when he couldn't be with offense on their last drive as they vainly tried to orchestrate a winning drive.
So I'm left wondering whether other unstated things are going on. I believe Troy Walters recruited Wandale - perhaps Robinson wasn't happy with the change to Lubick? Or perhaps there is a more significant systemic problem affecting the team more generally? I really wish I knew.
And yet players keep leaving. It hurt when J.D. left last year because he was such a valuable player, but it was also surprising because he was almost certain to become Nebraska's all-time leading receiver had he stayed. But to me at least, Wandale leaving hurts a lot more. I loved his heart, and he seemed to represent everything that gave me hope for the future of the team. To me, he was in many ways the face of Nebraska football. Put bluntly, seeing him leave is the ultimate gut punch.
I understand that he wanted to be closer to his mother. But couldn't he have taken some time away from the team to be with her while she recovers from COVID-19 and still been back with the team for summer conditioning? More troubling from the perspective of the team, he seemed to not like how he was being used in the offense. I'm having trouble squaring that with my prior impression that he would do whatever he could to help the team. I remember watching how angry he was on the sideline at Purdue in 2019 when he couldn't be with offense on their last drive as they vainly tried to orchestrate a winning drive.
So I'm left wondering whether other unstated things are going on. I believe Troy Walters recruited Wandale - perhaps Robinson wasn't happy with the change to Lubick? Or perhaps there is a more significant systemic problem affecting the team more generally? I really wish I knew.
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