ESPN Reports: It may be the end of Dylan Raiola’s season. Might he be done with the Huskers too?

March 1, 2024 Frost24 Uncategorized 0

ESPN’s Kirk Herbstreit responds to allegations he helped sway Dylan Raiola to Nebraska

he story of Dylan Raiola’s dramatic flip to Nebraska includes Kirk Herbstreit. The impact and intentions of the prominent ESPN analyst have mushroomed into a sudden controversy — at least to the Georgia fans the five-star quarterback left behind.

The Huskers’ 11th-hour acquisition of Raiola in December added a new public detail Wednesday that Herbstreit — one of the most influential voices in college football — played a part. Dylan’s father, former NU star Dominic Raiola, mentioned the broadcaster as a meaningful factor during a signing-day interview with Rivals.

“When he saw the smoke about Dylan entertaining Nebraska he was like, ‘Call me,’ Dominic Raiola said. “He said, ‘Dude is this true? He gotta do it. He gotta do it.’ His affinity for Nebraska, for a guy like that to tell me and get behind me…”

The elder Raiola said his son came to the decision on his own and is “betting on himself” joining the new NU regime. He also said the exchange with Herbstreit was another sign that the change of heart was the right move

Droves of Georgia fans took to social media accusing the “College GameDay” personality of tampering. The analyst responded Thursday during an appearance on “The Paul Finebaum Show” to tell “the whole story.”

Herbstreit said he knew who Dylan Raiola was from his high-profile recruitment and from seeing him on the sidelines of a Georgia-Mississippi game last season. He and Dominic Raiola know each other “pretty well,” though they aren’t great friends. Dominic, Herbstreit said, reached out to him for an opinion on Nebraska coach Matt Rhule.

“When somebody calls and says ‘What do you think of Matt Rhule?’ and you like Matt Rhule, are you supposed to say ‘Matt Rhule’s a bad guy? Matt Rhule’s an idiot? Matt Rhule’s a bad coach?’” Herbstreit said. “Or do you say, ‘I like Matt Rhule. I think Matt Rhule’s a good coach?’ He did a nice job at Temple; he did a nice job at Baylor. I know it didn’t work out at Carolina but my take on it was he’s a pretty good coach.”
Herbstreit said what resonated with him about Dylan Raiola’s impending flip was that the QB could go anywhere but was considering the Huskers because of his father’s legacy in Lincoln. Herbstreit’s decision to play at Ohio State as a quarterback in the late 1980s was largely shaped by his father being a former Buckeyes captain.

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