Clester Johnson Has Some Things to Get Off His Chest About Nebraska Football

A third straight close loss

Nebraska fell 17-10 to Washington, extending a run of three consecutive losses in games the Huskers had opportunities to win. Johnson believes the issues extend beyond a few unlucky plays.

On a special midweek Common Fan episode, Johnson and the hosts discussed the team’s running game, missed chances against Washington and the responsibility of coaches to put players in position to succeed. They also weighed how much responsibility belongs to players.

Lessons from Tom Osborne

He sees room for improvement in leadership, especially when momentum turns late in games. The hosts also considered whether the Huskers’ fourth-quarter struggles have become a psychological challenge as well as a football one.

Rhule and fan frustration

Matt Rhule’s emotional Monday press conference after the Washington loss drew attention for his comments about a fan verbally confronting his daughter. The Common Fans said confronting a coach’s family is unacceptable.

They also questioned whether Rhule’s public remarks shifted focus from the team’s struggles and discussed signs of strain between the coaching staff and a frustrated fan base. The conversation raised whether Rhule has lost the confidence of Husker Nation, or whether a couple of wins could change the mood.

Hope with four games left

Friday’s game at Illinois could affect the direction of the season. Johnson’s message to fans was that frustration and demands for improvement can coexist with belief while the players keep fighting.