Matt Rhule describes his experience watching Terence Crawford fight

Matt Rhule was in attendance for Terence ‘Bud’ Crawford’s historic victory over Canelo Alvarez on Saturday, hours after Nebraska defeated Houston Christian 59-7. It was a “bucket list” Saturday for the Cornhuskers head coach.

Nebraska’s Week 3 matchup kicked off at Noon ET, so it worked out that the Huskers headman could take a quick flight to Las Vegas to watch the boxing super-fight. It was an exciting day to be a Nebraska Cornhusker.

“We flew out there, had an amazing dinner a place called Bavette’s at the MGM. First class service, I mean, just people taking care of you,” Rhule said. “Went over to support the guys in the undercard. And then we went up and went to the fight, and then went down to the ring. … Just an amazing atmosphere. And because you had two great fighters, you had two great sets of fans that loved this hall of fame fight.”

While Rhule was ringside, he consoled a man who lost $20k on the fight and even gave a couple of women from South Jersey his phone number. Not for any romantic pursuit, but because they were cheering for Crawford so passionately that he wants them in Lincoln to do the same for his team during Week 4.

After heading backstage, Rhule shared that he was stopped by security trying to see Crawford after the game. Crawford came to the Nebraska coach’s aid.

“He’s in a golf cart getting ready to be wisked away, right? He looks at me like this (mimics beckoning gesture),” Rhule continued. “I started walking up to him. The security guard hit me in the chest so hard, like, shoved me out the way. And Bud was like, ‘No! That’s coach.'”

Rhule admitted he tried to play it off. “I can’t look soft,” he added. “My man just went 12 rounds.”

The Nebraska head coach landed back in Lincoln at 5 a.m. and was planning to head straight to the office to begin prep for Michigan on Saturday. His wife made him come home and get some sleep before then. Rhule said his youngest daughter woke him up two hours.

While Nebraska is looking ahead at their Big Ten opener vs. the Wolverines on Saturday, it was certainly a weekend to remember for the state of Nebraska as a whole. Matt Rhule was front and center for all of it.