Matt Rhule says a fan cursed at his 13-year-old daughter after Nebraska's loss, and he isn't quitting

Nebraska coach Matt Rhule said Monday that a man at the stadium told his 13-year-old daughter "F-U and F your dad" after Saturday's 17-10 loss to Washington.

"I'm not going to keep coaching if it means my kids grow up screwed up," Rhule said. Then he made clear he isn't going anywhere. "We're going to keep fighting until the day they tell me to leave," he said. "I'm not leaving, I'm not quitting."

Rhule said his wife, Julie, asked their children whether the life of a high-profile coach was too much. His 10-year-old daughter texted him that she loved the team, the players and living in Nebraska, and that she was tough enough to handle it, he said.

"So I'm going to fight for the fans," Rhule said. "Yeah, they get passionate, they boo, they throw a bottle. I get all that. The guy who attacked my 13-year-old daughter, I'm not coaching for him."

The anger in Lincoln comes from somewhere real. Nebraska is 5-3 and 2-3 in the Big Ten, and Saturday was the third straight game the Huskers led deep into the fourth quarter and lost, after late collapses against Indiana and Oregon, ESPN reported. They were up 7-3 on Washington with under two minutes left. The Huskies converted a fourth-and-18 two plays before their go-ahead touchdown, then put it away when Anthony Colandrea's third interception went back for a score. Fans threw trash on the field after the pick.

None of that excuses what Rhule described. Booing a 7-3 lead that turns into a loss is fair. Going after a coach's kid is not, and Rhule was right to draw the line there.

He also stood by his offensive coordinator, who took heat for having Colandrea throw 44 passes. "Dana Holgorsen is one of the best offensive minds of our generation," Rhule said.

His message to everyone else was to stay calm. "Just steady in the boat, man," he said. "Don't take a rocking boat and a rocking sea and rock it even more."

What's next: Nebraska plays at Illinois (5-3) on Friday night, an 8 p.m. ET kickoff on FOX.