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Marcus Satterfield: An OC for All Seasons?
Husker fans seem to like what new Nebraska football offensive coordinator Marcus Satterfield has been saying lately.
"We're going to bring back the fullback!" That's music to most Husker fans. He told a bunch of people recently at a public event that his offense is going to run the ball in order to set up the deep passing game. The short passing game is not for him, he added. His offense seems to make sense, especially with the kind of weather Nebraska plays in each football season. There is the boiling heat of August and September, moderate temps in early fall and then it's Siberia in the month of November. Will his offense be one for all seasons? We'll find out in a few months.
Satterfield spent 2 seasons ('21-'22) as the OC/QB coach at South Carolina of the SEC. His first year in '21, the Gamecocks didn't fare very well offensively. SC averaged only 22.6 ppg, rushed for a total of 1,770 yards and scored 9 TDs. The passing figures were 2,615 total yards, 22 TDs and 11 INTs. The Gamecocks went 7-6 that year including a bowl win over North Carolina.
What these figures don't include is the injury-plagued QB room Satterfield inherited his first year. His starting QB starter was lost before the season began. Another QB got injured. Satterfield eventually had to play a grad assistant who had played some QB in college. "The kid ended up winnig four games for us."
In year two, Satterfield scored a major coup by getting Oklahoma QB Spencer Rattler to come to South Carolina. Rattler's transfer changed things for South Carolina's offense.
SC went from averaging 22.6 ppg to 32.2 in Satterfield's second year. In year two, SC's rushing totals actually dropped from 1,770 yards to 1,545. But the rushing TDs went up from nine in 2021 to 27 in 2022. In other words, SC ran for fewer yards in '22 but more than doubled the rushing TDs from the previous year.
The passing stats changed also. In '22 with the addition of Rattler, SC went from 2,615 yards to 3,380, 23 TDs and 14 INTs. SC finished the season 8-5, including a 63-38 win over Tennessee and a 31-30 win over Clemson.
Based on Satterfield's record at South Carolina, we hope his magic will work for many years at Nebraska.
Husker ‘Man of Steal’ seals the deal!
Need a miracle to help beat Maryland in a Husker men's basketball game over the weekend? Just let "Sam The Man" Hoiberg do his thing. (He's the son of Husker head basketball coach Fred Hoiberg.) All Sam did was make the play of the game in OT in Sunday's Husker win over the Terrapins at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
With the Huskers clinging to a slim lead with seconds to go in OT, Sam anticipated Maryland's inbounds pass. He stole the ball and raced down the court for a two-point layup. The jam-packed arena roared its approval. Nebraska made enough free throws down the stretch to hang on to a 70-66 OT win. It was a thing of beauty! Congratulations to the Husker men's basketball team. Just when you think the Huskers might fold, they found a new way to win.
How ’Bout Them Huskers
Grandson Will and I had a chance to visit with former Husker great wide receiver Jordan Westerkamp. He was the very first person we interviewed in last year's podcast debut season. Jordan tells us about his latest business adventure and his battle with injuries during his Husker playing career. He also offers his prediction about the '23 Husker football season and talks about Matt Rhule and his new staff. Please don't miss this episode. Jordan is truly a class act!
Our guest next week is former Husker linebacker Josh Banderas. He will be the first father/son tandem we've ever interviewed. (We interviewed his dad Tom last year.) If there are any questions you'd like us to ask Josh, send them to HuskerDan@cox.net.
