Matt Rhule ahead of first season at Nebraska: 'I'm having the time of my life'

Bringing in Matt Rhule has been a breath of fresh air for the Nebraska Cornhuskers. The feeling has been mutual on Rhule’s end as well.

Both Nebraska and Rhule shared similar misfortunes in recent seasons. Nebraska has missed out on the postseason for six consecutive seasons, while Rhule was fired by the Carolina Panthers after leading the team to an 11-27 record over two and a half seasons as head coach.

The two coming together seems to be a perfect marriage coming at the perfect time.

“I’m having the time of my life, I really am,” Rhule said. “So this is as happy as I’ve been in a really, really long time. My family’s here now. My girls are happy, my family’s happy, my wife’s happy, the son’s doing well. I really enjoy this team.”

The feelings might be high before the season begins, but Rhule isn’t letting that go to his team’s head. The whole point of this offseason was based on welcoming new players and staff into the program, installing a brand-new system and molding the program in Rhule’s image.

While everything is sunshine and rainbows on the surface, Rhule is set on turning this Nebraska team into one of the most physical in the country.

His team actually tackles each other in practice — something most teams stray from to avoid injury. He’s utilizing a fullback in 2023, which is a position essentially extinct in Power Five college football. Rhule sees these as mini wrinkles that ultimately make his team tougher than the one across the ball from them.

As it seems, Rhule’s players, staff and Nebraska fans alike have completely bought into the vision he has for the program. If you don’t believe in the hype, just ask the 66,000 fans who packed Memorial Stadium for a spring game last month. Based on the incredible turnout for a scrimmage — just imagine what the Huskers’ first home game will feel like this fall.

The Huskers will begin its season against Minnesota on Aug. 31 for a Thursday night Week 1 matchup. Despite the hype surrounding Nebraska’s program, Vegas Insider has the Golden Gophers as a 7.5-point favorite at home.

“I’m confident we’re going to play hard. I’m confident we’re going to be a physical team,” Rhule said. “I’m confident that if things don’t go well early, that we’re not going to panic. I’m confident that if things do go well early, we’re not going to celebrate. And I’m confident we’ll have fun together.”