Can't Wait For Saturday | Former football power seems to have found a good fit in Dannen
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Greetings from "Can't Wait For Saturday," your morning morsel of college football, courtesy of longtime Illini beat writer, AP Top 25 voter and Heisman state rep Bob Asmussen. He'll give you his views each day on the game he loves
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The temporary heartbreak/hurt feelings in Lincoln, Neb., appear to have been pushed to the background. Time for the once-proud football program to move forward.
After the surprising departure of athletic director Trev Alberts for the same job at Texas A&M, the school quickly landed Washington's Troy Dannen as its next big boss.
It is huge news in Nebraska. The Cornhuskers are THE team in the state of 2 million. Few state populations are as loyal to one program as they are in Nebraska.
Dannen walks into a good situation thanks in large part to the work done by alum Alberts. He hired a good football coach, Matt Rhule, who showed promise in his first season.
Both basketball programs are in the NCAA tournament. Alberts' kept men's coach Fred Hoiberg and the decision looks very wise. Nebraska made it to the NCAA tournament for the first time in 10 years.
Women's basketball coach Amy Williams has been a hit.
There is no better program on campus than volleyball, which drew more than 90,000 for a match at Memorial Stadium. John Cook's team lost the national title match and has been a consistent contender.
The facilities in Nebraska Dannen inherits are in good shape and there are plans for a major renovation at Memorial Stadium.
Dannen knows the Midwest. He is an Iowa native.
I'm guessing Dannen adds stability to a program that just hired its fourth athletic director in a decade. If he keeps the ball rolling that Alberts got started, he will be popular in a state that values sports personalities.
