B1G Football Media Days Session 2: The Huskers Roll Into Town nebraska matt rhule

As forgettable as Day 1 of B1G Football Media Days unfurled (As another media member remarked to me as we gathered our lunch, “Man, that was rough, yesterday.”), Day 2 actually provided some laughs and solid info, many courtesy of Nebraska Head Coach Matt Rhule, of course.

Coach Rhule appeared maybe a little tired, but anyone who had never seen him interviewed multiple times would have known that, because a Matt Rhule who perhaps needs a cup of joe is still operating on an energy level on the far right end of the bell curve.

Oh, and there was another Rhule coffee story this year.

So with respect to Southern Cal, UCLA, Michigan St., Penn St. and none whatsoever to the Iowa Hawkeyes, let’s just get going on the Nebraska end of things.

COACH MATT RHULE

Coach Rhule took his turn on the main stage from 12:30-12:45 and then had to turn around and kick off the individual podium interviews for another 45 minutes beginning at 1:15. The aura he gave off the entire time both verbally and non-verbally was simple.

He’s expecting good things. Really good things.

• Right away on the main podium, he addressed the offense and the fact they will be much, much deeper at running back, the offensive line and most definitely, wide receiver.
• Left unsaid was the QB position where Jeff Sims, Chubba Purdy and previously ignored Heinrich Haarberg are now Dylan Raiola, Daniel Kaelin and several months with a QB coach Heinrich Haarberg.
• Yeah, we can talk about experience with two true freshman, but I’m willing to bet they will be a major upgrade over fully experienced Sims and Purdy.
• Rhule embraces how former players and coaches like Tom Osborn, George Darlington, Eric Crouch and Tommie Frazier come around and what a bonus it is to have their input. Whereas some previous coaches might’ve worried about not being seen as in charge, Rhule simply takes them for the asset they can be to him and the program.
• One comment from the main stage which stuck with me was how he expects the Big 10 to have four teams selected for the CFP on a regular basis. The SEC is still the SEC, however 2023 broke an eight year streak of the SEC in title game with Michigan winning and then Lou Saban retired. Rhule stepped out and said, “The Big 10 is the NFL of college football.”

The order of coaches on the main podium was DeShaun Foster (more on him later), Ferentz, Jonathan Smith, Lincoln Riley, Rhule, and James Franklin. It was hard not to notice many in the press scampering off to the lunch area near the end of Ferentz’ session to scarf down some chow in order to be back for Rhule’s turn.

A half hour later, Rhule took to the individual podium for 45 minutes of questioning. He even got a laugh out of the old trope, “I guess you guys are wondering why I called you all here today.”

• “The devil is in the details.” The new 105-man roster limit is expected to be hammered out fairly quickly, however it’s clear the coaches still have some questions.
• One thing we do know is all 105 can be put on scholarship. As Rhule pondered, if he loses a cornerback for the season, is that roster spot just dead? Can they bring 140 players to camp and then have to give a list of their 105 before the season starts? My own question – if yes, then can the other 35 practice with the team, serve as a practice squad a la the NFL and fill those injured positions?
• Rhule 100% wants to find a way for the walk-on program to exist. Much like the JUCO rule Texas forced down everyone’s throat in the Big 12 days, Nebraska would be harmed much more than others if that was legislated out of existence.
• As Rhule quipped, “The movie Rudy may be really hard to explain to our grandchildren.”
• Last year, Rhule brought the house down by going “BRO!” And bowing to the B1G official who brought him some much-needed coffee. This year, same guy comes rolling in with a cup of joe leading Rhule to explain tongue-in-cheek how he was dying for coffee and they had so many chances to get him one but failed to do so until this last appearance. His burning need for caffeine is hilarious. And 100% understandable.
• The press was thirsting for details on Evan Cooper’s leaving, but he wasn’t divulging anything. Coaches leaving is part of the business and the why of it “is their story to tell”.
• It’s his stock answer when asked how many wins he expects, but of course he got the question again. The response? “I expect to win every game.” Asked and answered again.
• With the allowance for additional on-field assistants, several promotions have been made – most notably Ron Brown who had been serving as an advisor. He will coach fullbacks and returners.
• On finding it tough to run the ball in 2023: without dropping shade on the QB’s, he pointed out that last season the offensive line was run-blocking against teams who knew they were going to be running the ball most of the time. There was definitely a little gleam in his eye at the prospect of a more balanced offense.
• Speaking of the offensive line, he did say he spoke with Brian Ferentz after his release. Rhule has nothing but respect for him, especially the way he hung in & fought knowing he was going to lose his job. Would love to have had him but the Huskers were stocked with coaches at that position, so it wasn’t the right time.

• You know a coach is stoked when, thinking he has a few secrets on the roster, goes ahead and tells the press “We’ve got a few secrets” at B1G Football Media Days.
• One who isn’t a secret anymore is incoming freshman Carter Nelson who Rhule said will be a WR this year playing in the slot because it’s the quickest way to get him on the field. He’d revealed previously he would create a position for him and design not just plays but some packages with him in mind.
• Anyone who saw Nelson standing out in the Polynesian Bowl amid top national HS talent knows what all the hype is about. Georgia recruiters tried selling him by saying he could be their next Brock Bowers. That was their way of saying he would have been on the field this season for the Bulldogs.
• As far as wide receiver, Rhule couldn’t contain himself as to the depth and talent at that position this season. Between transfers, incoming freshman and returnees, this may be the most talented this group has been ever. No, seriously.
• While not having named a starter, it’s fairly obvious what the other half of that equation is for passing game excitement. Not to mention a strong and veteran offensive line coached by his uncle which should keep him clean.
• Rhule was very honest about a huge factor in the success of the program. “You have to spend money to win. Simply balancing the checkbooks does not equal winning.

Rhule brought graduate seniors Isaac Gifford, Ty Robinson and Ben Scott with him to Indianapolis and I managed to get a few questions in while scrambling around among the podiums shown above. The guys definitely reflect their coach’s attitude.

Ty Robinson seems a man on a mission to leave the program in a better place.

Ben Scott would have fit in well on those 90’s teams – he wants the line to be a hard, physical force in the running game and one can sense he’s got the mean streak the position requires.

Isaac Gifford loves the freedom of the 3-3-5 and he would also make a great Kayce Dutton stunt double should Yellowstone ever have need of him.

(All vids are around 3 minutes long.)

Ty Robinson

Ben Scott

Isaac Gifford

SUMMARY OF DAY 2

If I said anything too goofy, have a heart. Was fighting a little cough and hit the sack for a two hour nap as soon as I got back to the hotel. I may have called Lincoln Riley Lincoln Minor. I honestly don’t recall.

OH YEAH, THERE WERE SOME OTHER SCHOOLS TOO.

I guess we should talk a little about them. There won’t be quite the slobbering over USC and UCLA you’l find other places. They just played in another time zone, not another continent and I’ve watched plenty of Football After Dark over the years, so it’s not quite the ALIENS ARE LANDING deal for me which it is for others. Anyway…

• WEDNESDAY’s filibusters on the main stage – honestly, this was a non-issue yesterday. I don’t know if the conference told them to knock it off or it was just a coincidence, but everyone kept their remarks to 3 or 4 minutes. Not a bad idea since it is MEDIA days. Nice job today, coaches. Keep taking questions.
• New UCLA coach Deshaun Foster kicked things off by telling us he was sure we don’t know much about his program, but they are in LA. UCLA in LA. Got it. After that, he basically vapor-locked for 15-20 seconds. Seriously.

• All that aside, for anyone who’s has spoken in front of crowds repeatedly, freeaing up something with which we’re all familiar. And once the questions started, DeShaun absolutely crushed it.
• Kirk Ferentz began his remarks with the obligatory “happy to be here” stuff while sporting an expression of a man on his porch watching someone else’s cat take a shit on his freshly mowed lawn.
• When talking about non-returning players, the first one singled out was his punter. Because of course it was.
• When asked about his new offensive coordinator, Kirk sprayed a few strays at his boy Brian, beginning his answer with, “Obviously, our offense was not where we wanted it to be for a couple of years.” Thanks, Dad!
• Lincoln Riley? Just….settle down buddy. A common problem among dudes. Maybe think of baseball?

(I know, I know, low hanging fruit, but how can I not?)

A FEW MORE PICS (APOLOGIES JONATHAN SMITH)

Nebraska Cornhuskers

Southern Cal Trojans

UCLA Bruins

Penn State Nittany Lions

Michigan State Spartans

Iowa Hawkeyes