In his unofficial Big Ten debut, Matt Rhule's message was all about respect
INDIANAPOLIS – Matt Rhule is widely known for his ability to hold court at a press conference podium. At his unofficial debut at Big Ten Media Days on Thursday, though, the first-year Nebraska head coach kept his opening statement short and sweet.
The general theme of Rhule’s 15 minutes on the main stage at Lucas Oil Stadium was also very clear. Before he or the Huskers could start talking about how bright the future could be, they had to earn respect.
Not just from their Big Ten peers and fans around the country but also from everyone within the program. As he’s said since he was hired in late November, Rhule reiterated that it started with winning today.
“There was a time when Nebraska football was feared,” Rhule said. “We certainly want to get back to that. We want to be a team that you say, ‘That team is feared.’ But we’re not at that point yet. We’re at a point where I believe we have to take back the respect of what it means to play Nebraska and to be Nebraska.
“I want people to respect when they see that white helmet with that red ‘N’ on it. I want our fans to respect us when they pay their money to come watch us play. I want our opponents to respect us. I want all of college football to respect the way that Nebraska plays the game. Most importantly, I want our players to respect what it means to be a Cornhusker and what it means to be at Nebraska.
“This season, for me, is all about us not just earning but taking back respect and bringing back respect to Nebraska football. Once you earn respect, then you can talk about being feared.”
Rhule said it was critical for his program to embrace that “day by day” mentality that was the foundation of NU’s legendary run under his predecessors, Bob Devaney and Tom Osborne.
It’s no coincidence that Rhule has leaned heavily on Osborne during his first offseason at the helm in Lincoln.
What immediately jumped out during his talks with the Hall of Fame coach was Osborne saying it wasn’t the plays he called that made NU so successful but how well they practiced.
“I’ve been very blessed that Coach Osborne has been willing to share some things with me,” Rhule said. “Really, practicing in the ways that Coach Devaney, Coach Osborne, and Coach (Frank) Solich did for 42 years of dominance…
“I’d be a fool if I didn’t ask Coach Osborne what the blueprint is. He doesn’t talk about plays; he talks about the way they practiced first and foremost.”
Recruiting Nebraska was an immediate priority
It only took Rhule and his staff a few months to assemble a top-30 recruiting class at Nebraska.
He said part of that was taking the job after being unemployed following his firing by the Carolina Panthers, which allowed him to hit the ground running in the recruiting process. Along with a heavy evaluation of players in the 2023, ’24, and ’25 classes, Rhule and Co. also kept much of their attention locally.
Nebraska held in-person evaluations of more than 3,000 players from third grade to high school through various camps this summer. A significant number of those were in-state recruits.
Eight of the 28 signees in NU’s 2023 class were from Nebraska. Of the Huskers’ 24 commits so far for 2024, six are from the state.
“What I saw was, you know what, there’s a lot of talent in Nebraska,” Rhule said. “Guys came to our camps from small towns all across the state that maybe weren’t on our radar, but they certainly are now.
“That was all intentional, and that was certainly part of the reason why we took the job. If you’re strong at home, if there’s talent coming from Nebraska, then you’re going to win.”
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Rhule is excited to continue the Colorado rivalry
The first question Rhule took while at the main podium skipped right over the opener at Minnesota and went right to Nebraska’s game at Colorado.
The Huskers will travel to Boulder for the first meeting of a home-and-home series in 2023 and ’24. The Sept. 9 contest at CU will mark the third meeting between the teams since 2018.
While nearly all of Rhule’s attention has been on recruiting and getting his team ready to take on Minnesota next month, he admitted he was excited to be part of the Nebraska-Colorado rivalry.
“Well, if you know me, you know I love college football,” Rhule said. “I’m a college football junkie. So, I remember the great days. Coach Osborne versus Coach (Bill) McCartney. Rashaan Salaam, all the great players that played there. I think it’s good for college football. It’s great when we have regional rivalries when fans can drive to them. I think it’s good for the game.”
Rhule added that he went as far as making his family watch YouTube videos of past NU-CU games to get a better appreciation for the rivalry and what it meant to Husker fans.
“ I’m excited for it,” Rhule said. “Obviously, they’re doing a great job at Colorado, and we’ll try to do our part to make sure it’s a great thing for college football.”
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Minnesota’s P.J. Fleck had high praise for Rhule
Minnesota’s P.J. Fleck had plenty on his plate in the wake of allegations that came out on Wednesday regarding his program.
But the seventh-year Golden Gopher head coach still took some time to talk about Nebraska and Rhule while at the main podium.
Minnesota will face what is widely regarded as one of the most difficult schedules in 2023, and that starts with its opener vs. the Huskers on Aug. 31.
Fleck said he’d known Rhule for many years, going back to their days as coaches in the Mid-American Conference. He praised how Rhule had built his teams on and off the field throughout his career and expected that plan to work just as well in Lincoln.
“I have known Coach Rhule for a long time,” Fleck said. “I have a ton of respect for what he’s done. We go back to the Western Michigan games for me and Temple days for him. He’s a phenomenal football coach with a phenomenal culture. His culture is all about connectivity.
“And anytime you’re opening with a Big Ten opponent, you always know it’s going to be a tough matchup, especially when you have a coaching staff like he has and a team like he has. I’ve always had a ton of respect for Nebraska. Our team always has.”
