"That doesn’t bother me": Matt Rhule unfazed by angry Ohio State fans throwing bottles on field
It seems college football games have become a common place to see fans throwing bottles on the field whenever they are unhappy with a call. Texas fans set the precedent, and Ohio State fans continued it in Week 9 when they were up against Matt Rhule's Nebraska.
However, unlike the Texas-Georgia game where the call was overturned following fans throwing bottles, the call on the play where Nebraska moved 30 yards forward saw Ohio State coach Ryan Day getting agitated near the sidelines, which was followed by Ohio State fans throwing bottles on the field.
The controversy surrounding it was about the targeting call, which was ruled as a catch after review.
Although Nebraska ended up losing the game 21-17, Matt Rhule said that he's not too fazed by such behavior, citing his Philly roots.
“It was a break in the action too because they told us to go to the middle of the field because they were throwing bottles,” Rhule said.
“That’s water bottles. Trust me, I’m from Philly. I’m for all of that. I mean, that doesn’t bother me. Just got the guys in the middle, said, ‘Let’s go.'”
Due to fans throwing bottles, Nebraska players were temporarily escorted from their bench by security.
Matt Rhule's quarterback Dylan Raiola gives "disrespect football" take on Ohio State fans
While Matt Rhule isn't too bothered about what happened on the field, his freshman quarterback Dylan Raiolo finds the entire ordeal disrespectful.
"The bottles being thrown is just, I don't know, it kind of feels like it disrespects football and the nature of it," Raiola said postgame via Thomas Goldkamp.
"It happened and we had to get away from it, but nah, it was loud. It was a cool environment. But we knew that coming in."
Raiola's interception while trailing four points with less than a minute remaining in the game sealed the deal for the No. 4 Ohio State Buckeyes.
The quarterback completed 21-of-32 passes for 152 yards, one interception and one fumble. The loss means that the Huskers are stuck at five wins, and they need one more win to become bowl eligible for the first time since 2016. They face UCLA this week, where they will hope to register a win.