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NU defensive coordinator Bob Diaco says rugby tackling was ‘alarming;’ Mark Banker says successor making excuses

LINCOLN — Nebraska defensive coordinator Bob Diaco wants to protect his players, not air Husker football’s “family business.” And he wants to be honest at the same time.

When a team is 4-5, that’s not easy, and Diaco said this balancing act led in part to his headline-making comments after Saturday’s 31-24 overtime loss to Northwestern, when he told reporters there was “no reasonable reason” to expect the defense to be further along than it was.

Which is now last in the Big Ten in yards per play allowed and 13th in points per game allowed.