Steven Sipple: Rhule’s infectious energy gives Husker program much-needed jolt

On3 imageby:Steven Sipple11/26/22

steven_sipple

Matt Rhule brings energy. Positive energy. That’s his personality, the impression he leaves. And, my heavens, Nebraska football needs more positive energy.

Yes, that win in Iowa City helped greatly. But 4-8 is 4-8.

It’s been a jarringly rough ride during the past five-plus seasons.

Click here for a limited time, register and get an unprecedented 12 months for only $25.00.

Not everyone in a beaten-down Nebraska fan base will agree that Trev Alberts found the right man. Home-run hire? I’m not even sure one existed — someone on whom everyone agrees fits the description. Luke Fickell probably was the closest to it. Maybe Lane Kiffin. Or Urban Meyer, but he would have been controversial, and my read is hiring Meyer never was a serious consideration.

So, enter Rhule. He’s been on Nebraska’s radar for weeks. Many Husker fans already are aware of his success in turning around programs at Temple (2013-16) and Baylor (2017-19). He walked into scandal at Baylor. Walked into two years of sordid tales of sexual assault and university cover-ups and administration excuse-making.

Baylor needed a change in culture. A change in energy. A change in overall approach. The Bears were 1-11 in 2017, but 7-6 in Rhule’s second season and 11-3 in 2019.

Steven Sipple: If Joseph doesn’t land in big chair, it’s easy to understand why next Nebraska coach should keep him in prominent role

Rhule talks fast. East Coast fast.

Nebraska needs a change in culture. A change in energy. A change in overall approach. It needs new ideas. It needs someone who has steered big ships through treacherous waters. Mickey Joseph won the hearts of a lot of Husker fans as interim head coach. He absolutely brought positive energy. But it quickly became apparent he was a long shot at getting a chance in the big chair. His energy as the man in charge was going to be fleeting — welcome and useful but fleeting.

Nebraska fans hope to high heavens that Rhule becomes a long-term answer. We’ll see. I’m well past the point of merrily declaring that any coach (outside of Meyer) will be a surefire success here.

But I do like Rhule’s energy. He talks fast. East Coast fast. His enthusiasm is evident. You know how coaches like to say they look for players who love the sport? Well, Alberts found someone who clearly loves football and loves what he’s doing. Nebraska fans will pick up on that immediately.

I’m told Rhule, 47, is process oriented. He challenges players and coaches. He respects the game. He stands for the right things in that regard.

And, yeah, his energy is contagious. Nebraska needs it. Needs it in recruiting. Needs it in general.

It’ll be interesting to hear Rhule’s overarching roster-management plan. During his Saturday appearance on ESPN College GameDay, he noted the several former Baylor and Temple players who ended up in the NFL. The key was development, he said.

“To me, the players who want to come to Nebraska — they have to want to be NFL players,” said Rhule, who also emphasized the importance of getting a degree. “You know what? We’re going to push players. Anybody can help you get to the NFL. We’re going to help guys get second contracts. We’re going to help guys when they get to the NFL to be pros.

“That’s really been our specialty.”

Bottom line, Nebraska needs to get back to having All-Americans. Yes, All-Americans. It doesn’t have to be a far-flung notion around here.

Winning big doesn’t have to be a far-flung notion.

It does require elbow grease, and ample energy.

Mike Riley, who was 19-19 at NU from 2015-17, brought a “I can’t believe I’m even here” energy. He wasn’t exactly a killer competitor. A former university regent once described Riley as “pathologically kind.” I was startled whenever I saw him with his back turned to the practice field, chatting it up with former players or whoever. It was a strange energy.

Scott Frost, 16-31 at NU before Alberts fired him Sept. 11, seemed beaten down by the job. He lost his first six games in 2018 and never found a groove. The job got away from him. It seemed to overwhelm him. In the end, he became distrustful of Alberts and others. Frost didn’t seem to enjoy his work; it became a job. The saga became hard to watch.

Rhule has guided ships through rocky waters

No question, Alberts needed to bring in a coach with a background of success. Rhule has steered ships through rocky waters. He’ll encounter rocky waters at NU. The Big Ten is a bear that’s too often devoured the Husker program. Alberts needed to make a hire that has some teeth. This was no time for a coach who needs to learn on the job.

I’m sure Rhule learned plenty at Temple and Baylor. He learned even more with the NFL Carolina Panthers, who fired him this season after a 1-4 start. He was 11-27 with the franchise. He takes ownership for his failures there. And guess what? He sounds hungry.

Hungry to re-prove himself. I like that picture.

“The plan we had was right,” Rhule said this week on NFL Network when asked of his main takeaway from his Panthers tenure. “I didn’t win enough. I didn’t win enough to be able to see the plan all the way through. But that’s on me, and I own it. But the nucleus of young talent, the culture that we built. … I think a lot of things we did were right. On my next stop, I’ll just try to accelerate that process. Try to win a little bit more early. Because in this league as a head coach, if you don’t win early, it’s over.”

Because he’s Alberts’ guy, he’ll likely be given a relatively long rope. The trouble is many Nebraska fans are at the end of their rope. Many Husker fans have grown tired of losing — mentally and emotionally tired. Reasonable fans understand Rhule walks into a two- or perhaps three-year rebuild. The water will stay rough for a while. If that’s the case, will people be patient?

“Find the right people”

Rhule can handle it. He has handled it. His first Temple team went 2-10. The Owls followed with 6-6, 10-4 and 10-3 seasons at a program void of tradition, relevance, and resources. As for Baylor, its problems were extensive enough that it ran off head coach Art Briles, athletic director Ian McCaw and school president Ken Starr.

How does Rhule do it?

“No. 1 is to find the right people,” he said in 2017 during Big 12 Media Days. “The right coaches, then go recruit the right people on your team. It’s not always about talent. To me, it’s about toughness. If you want to have a tough team, you need tough coaches.

“Because when you build something, you’re going to go through adversity and it can build character, but it’s a lot better if you get people with character.”

Energy helps, too. Positive energy. Forceful energy.

Man, this place needs it right now. It needs a jolt.

Riley and Frost lacked it, obviously.

Rhule will provide it. That’s a start.

We’ll see where it goes from there.

You may also like