MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – AUGUST 31: Head coach Matt Rhule of the Nebraska Cornhuskers talks during his post-game press conference after the game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Huntington Bank Stadium on August 31, 2023 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Golden Gophers defeated the Cornhuskers 13-10. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)
Nebraska head football coach Matt Rhule met with the media before the team’s Big Red Preview on Saturday night. The Huskers head coach was asked about the possibility of replacing Memorial Stadium’s artificial turf with grass.
Athletic director Troy Dannen spoke openly about the possibility of a change at the Big Ten Media Days. He told the media that the program is planning a surface change.
“That’s the plan for grass to happen. Matt’s highly motivated for grass. We’ve done some work on the practice field and re-topped them with grass. After this season we plan to dig those out and put some sort of heating in to keep those practice fields grass live. He’ll practice on grass. Unless there’s lightning or it’s impossible, we won’t go indoors because Matt’s intention is to play on grass. I think that’s maybe the NFL coach in him. There’s a lot of safety evidence that shows if you can play on grass then you play on grass.”
When Rhule was about the possible change, he said that he was excited about the opportunity.
“I think field turf is great,” he said. “There’s a place for it. I think when you can be on grass, just the pounding and all of that, repetitive day after day is better. But, we’ll play on either one. When they first put artificial turf in here, it was very cutting edge because it was really hard to grow grass in this region of the country. Now, grass strains and all the things you can do. It’s just a whole other level.
When Memorial Stadium opened in 1923, Nebraska played on natural grass through the 1969 season. In 1970, the Huskers installed AstroTurf and have played on an artificial surface at home ever since.
Find more comments from Matt Rhule below.
On letting the AD spearhead the project
It’s certainly something I’m in favor for but of the things I’m worried about in my life right now it’s whether we can pick up third down blitzes. So that’s something that Troy (Dannen) is kind of spearheading. If we can do it, great. We’re an agricultural college, so I think we have a turf and grass science department as esteemed as ours is, having grass just brings more people to the University as well.”
On having an open practice
“In college now, this is the new normal,” he said. “To me on our end, it’s a good faith gesture. 1890 has done so much. they’ve stepped up so much. The fans and the donors, the people that give to 1890 have stepped up. To me, I hope everyone has a good time tonight and I hope the 3,500 people that come tonight turns into 10,000 next year, turns into 20,000. I also know there’s a lot of people and kids who maybe can’t get a ticket to a game. Pay the 25 dollars to come out and watch the guys practice.
On entertaining the crowd
This will be a lot of football tonight. It might not all be the most exciting things in the world, but if you like football you’re going to get a lot of stuff. You have a chance in my mind to see the guys that are just beginning their journey here or they’re down the line on the depth chart, you can see what they do. I’m anxious to see that. I hope people have fun, I hope this gets them ready for August 31st, and I hope we continue to grow it.”
On improvement from the spring
“We are light years ahead of where we were in the spring. They’ve done such a good job. Corey (Campbell) and his staff, Mitch (Cholewinski), Kristin (Coggin), Chris Peduzzi, all the off the field staff, but the credit has to go to the players.
On the older players as leaders
“I came back in July before media days, I went upstairs to the cardio deck and I’m just doing the old man walk and I’m looking outside at the offensive line drills and the defensive line drills. You would’ve thought the coaches were out there, but it’s just the older guys coaching them. I think it’s a real testament to the players and where they are. I’m really pleased with where we are after four days. We have a long way to go, but we’re night and day ahead of where we were this time last year.”
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