Matt Rhule admits he 'didn't always like the team last year' at Nebraska

In the current landscape of college football, bowl season is no longer the most pivotal part of a team’s season, assuming they’re not in the College Football Playoff. Instead, during this period, players often explore transfer options while coaches hear from other programs interested in adding them to their staff.

This harsh reality was true for Nebraska last season when it traveled to New York City to face off against Boston College in the Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl on Dec. 28. However, Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule believes the typically gloomy period was instead a turning point for the program.

“What was the turning point? I really believe it was post portal, the guys going to New York City,” Rhule said. “As uncomfortable as even that was, in terms of like, ‘Hey, if we would have gone to a bowl game in Florida or somewhere else, maybe the fans would have been everywhere, and it would have been easier for a lot of families.’ They were staying like an hour away and coming into the city.

“We were reflecting on it yesterday… I’ve said it a couple times: I didn’t always like the team last year. I loved them, but I didn’t always like them. It wasn’t always a fun day walking in the building… I remember [Dr. Susan Elza] saying, Ty and Nash being like, ‘This is so much fun because everyone who’s here wants to be here.’ And so, I think that was the turning point.”

Nebraska had 12 players transfer out of the program between the end of the regular season and its bowl game. The exodus included several key Cornhuskers, including defensive ends Princewill Umanmielen and James Williams, who each played in all 12 of Nebraska’s regular season games.

While Nebraska’s remaining players could’ve folded without many of their teammates joining them on the trip to NYC, they instead bonded closer than ever before. Rhule recalled taking the team to the 9/11 Memorial & Museum and being impressed by the team’s respectful nature: “I’ve never been more proud of a team.”

Nebraska’s newfound togetherness paid off in its showdown against Boston College. The Cornhuskers pulled out a 20-15 win over the Eagles, and headed into the offseason with some much-needed momentum. Evidently, the Cornhuskers haven’t allowed the bond they formed in New York to dissipate.

“What I’m excited about is, they’ve done it. They’ve worked hard. They’ve worked really hard,” Rhule said. “There’s a lot of things that we talked about, belief and confidence that are the next phase. But even yesterday, there was an issue with a player, he was late for the players-only meeting.

“Most of times they’re like, ‘Hey, Coach, we’re having a players-only meeting.’ Dylan just called, ‘Hey, we’re having a players-only meeting.’ And so what does that mean? It means that there’s an investment. There’s a caring factor.”