Stukenholtz: Take your medicine

When the head coach apologizes after the game, you know everything you need to know about how it went.

Indiana beat Nebraska 56-7 on the big stage. They accepted the challenge of Big Noon Kickoff and all the shenanigans that came with it, and it didn't bother them at all. The Hoosiers are legit and I congratulate them on their 7-0 start.

But as Matt Rhule always says, this is about Nebraska.

First of all, avoid the panic of being hit by others Indiana as if that were beneath you as a Husker fan. If you think that way, replace “Indiana” with “Michigan State” or “Wisconsin” and I bet you would think differently. You really shouldn't. This is a really good team.

The defense was outplayed, outmatched, outplayed by Indiana's offense. It was an unacceptable performance from the Blackshirts in almost every way. Before NU took a 42-7 lead, the Hoosiers had only failed to find the end zone due to a 4th down sack by Mikai Gbayor and an interception at the end of the half. By the end, the Huskers had allowed 215 rushing yards. Yikes.

However, it didn't have to be so ugly. There were non-defensive plays that acted as a hinge and influenced the outcome from Indiana's win to IU dominance:

Add to that a few more bobbled kickoff return catches, a low snap that led to a nearly blocked punt, and Nebraska seemed unprepared. Things quickly snowballed with the way Indiana executed their game plan. Maybe it's harsh to say NU has waved the white flag, but there are many concerns.

I watched the reaction after halftime. Could Nebraska respond meaningfully? The offense drove down the field in 15 plays, but then came the 4th down INT with a 78 yard return. Blackshirts? While in their own red zone, they allowed an IU TD two plays later and the rout was on.

What comes next will define the Rhule era at Nebraska. As they take their medication this week and probably more next weekend in Columbus, Ohio, some changes need to be made.

Why not increase the pace more often on offense? Why not more commitment to diversify the offense with more run calls? Why not just use Micah Mazzccua at left tackle if you were willing to use him after a 14-0 loss?

Husker fans will be out for blood this weekend, as will most college football fans who have seen their team do that. It's pretty unlikely that there will be any personnel changes, but you can make some adjustments. They already have that too. Can't rely on the field goal unit? Make EVERY 4th downs. Dowdell fumbling again? Play Emmett Johnson more.

While Marcus Satterfield may think that running the ball is like forcing him to eat his vegetables before dessert, the one-touchdown drive involved one more run play than one pass play. That doesn't mean they need to draft Raiola into Heinrich Haarberg's offense, but IU was overly concerned with making the Husker offense one-dimensional.

If you want to read about calls to shake your head, you've come to the wrong place. This conversation is for the off-season.

Rhule apologized to fans after the game. He felt bad so he apologized. I tell my kids: Don't just apologize, do better next time.

You will now take your medicine and we will see if it cures your ailments.

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