Matt Rhule reaffirms commitment to Nebraska on Pat McAfee Show: 'This is not a jumping-off job'
Matt Rhule and his future job status has been the talk of the town in Nebraska and around the entire country.
Will he remain with the Huskers or return to his alma mater, Penn State, to become the next head coach of the Nittany Lions if he gets the offer from PSU athletic director Pat Kraft?
That has been the question circulating over and over this past week, and it has been a monumental concern – or, at the very least, a monumental discussion – among Nebraska fans and an intriguing talking point for the Penn State fan base.
Rhule, during his regular Game Week press conference on Monday and his lightning-round press conference on Wednesday, had lengthy and compelling answers to the questions about his future job status when asked about the firing of James Franklin and the opening of the Penn State coaching search.
“I came here for two reasons: I love the community and I wanted to live here, and I love it here. And I wanted to rebuild Nebraska football,” Rhule said on Monday. “Troy (Nebraska athletic director Troy Dannen) and I understand the steps that you need to take to make us Big Ten champions and national champions. This place is elite. I want to be a great father and a great college football coach.”
Specifically addressing the opening, Rhule didn’t shy away from his affection for his alma mater.
“I love Penn State, met my wife there, my alma mater,” Rhule said. “Fan since I was born, I think probably had a Penn State shirt when I was born. I love Pat Kraft, and really sad to see Coach Franklin go.”
He added: “Troy and I are in an unbelievable relationship too, and Troy and I are in constant, constant communication about this program and where we’re headed.”
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On Thursday, Rhule was once again back at it, reaffirming his beliefs about Lincoln, his job at Nebraska and his future stance with the program – doing so during his weekly interview segment on the Pat McAfee Show.
This time, he was even more adamant about his intention to stay at Nebraska and not return to Penn State – where he began his college football career as a walk-on linebacker – and not reunite with Kraft, who was his athletic director during his four years as the Temple head coach.
“This is not a jumping-off job, this is a Destination Job,” Rhule said. “This is one of the greatest places in the world. It’s a town of 300,000 people. This isn’t some small (town). Everyone says, ‘Lincoln,’ (but) there’s 300,000 people here in Lincoln. I can do whatever I want here. I have a great, young team – the youngest team in the Big Ten. Think about how good we’ll be next year. Now, I’m not thinking about next year. But with where we are right now, we’re learning, learning, learning. Think about where we’re gonna go with Dylan (Raiola) and all these guys. So, I refuse to be distracted.
“At the same time, when it’s your alma mater, you have to show it love and respect. I love Pat Kraft, but they’ll find the right coach for them – whoever that is. But this is a destination job that should be a national bully, that should be a beast. And I think we’re on our way to doing that.”
Rhule added: “It’s fun to be around (this culture). … It’s funny, the three places I’ve been – not (the Carolina Panthers) but the two colleges (Temple and Baylor) and now here – we’ve spent a couple years to build the culture up and get the football right, and then I’ve left afterwards. So that’s why, for me, I’m going all in on this place. We can make this whatever we want.”