The Internet is full of coverage of an anonymous Big Ten coach slamming the Huskers for losing Raiola, and saying he was their ‘last hope’, but somehow the LJS doesn’t seem to have that story.
But they do have one of NU’s AD saying ‘be patient’ after giving Rhule a 2 year extension.
I think think comments are a bag of nothing. Raiola is a good QB and may be a great QB somewhere else. He would probably have been a great QB at Nebraska if the team had an OLine.
I think he made a good move for him and for the Huskers. If he stayed, his health was going to be in jeopardy. Additionally, the Huskers would have continued to walk on eggshells to keep him healthy.
Raiola needs a team with a great OLine. The Huskers need a mobile QB.
Win-Win
Tommy Thompson
Just call me “Pa”
Go Big Red
Go Cardinals
I agree, Raiola probably has a better chance at success at Oregon, in part because Nebraska just didn’t (and still doesn’t) have a great OL, but more importantly because Oregon runs the type of offense he is built for, Nebraska really doesn’t and really didn’t even when he was behind center here.
And though it wasn’t a very widespread opinion, I thought Raiola was an imperfect fit when he signed with Nebraska. I think Rhule was lured by the dark side of the force and those five stars.
In some ways, the two years he was here were a departure from the program rebuilding Rhule was brought in to manage. Here’s hoping he gets back on track in 2026. But ESPN just posted a list of the top 15 recruiting classes for 2027 and Nebraska wasn’t one of them.
I also suspect the comments aren’t as anonymous as claimed, and they’re part of the constant jostling between teams for recruiting purposes.
Mike Nolan
Last fall before Raiola was injured I was having a conversation with a friend of mine.
The subject was Raiola and if or not he will be back and finish his eligibility with the Huskers. I told him it is hard to know with the way college sports is today. I mentioned Raiola himself may not even be sure.
He got half mad and told me Raiola is absolutely here all the way through. He based that on Raiola’s relationship with Rhule and that his father played here. My friend said, “Raiola just won’t leave”.
Obviously he did leave.
John Papenhagen
**nolan**List Manager
I agree, Raiola probably has a better chance at success at Oregon, in part because Nebraska just didn’t (and still doesn’t) have a great OL, but more importantly because Oregon runs the type of offense he is built for, Nebraska really doesn’t and really didn’t even when he was behind center here.
And though it wasn’t a very widespread opinion, I thought Raiola was an imperfect fit when he signed with Nebraska. I think Rhule was lured by the dark side of the force and those five stars.
In some ways, the two years he was here were a departure from the program rebuilding Rhule was brought in to manage. Here’s hoping he gets back on track in 2026. But ESPN just posted a list of the top 15 recruiting classes for 2027 and Nebraska wasn’t one of them.
I also suspect the comments aren’t as anonymous as claimed, and they’re part of the constant jostling between teams for recruiting purposes.
Mike Nolan
I like to think of it as Ruhle just to took control of his program; to many Raiolas. It was be careful what you wish for, you might get it. It was a vicious circle. The brother Raiola wasn’t ready to be a OL coach, and he knew it. The younger brother was not fit to be a QB at Nebraska, and he knew that too. But Dom said you can’t have one without the other, so Ruhle chose the lesser of two evils. He had to let the superstar go in order to take control of his program.
In a message dated 5/22/2026 1:11:30 PM Eastern Daylight Time, nolan@tssi.com writes: