Matt Rhule breaks down how Nebraska has divided roster in camp

Matt Rhule is trying out something different for training camp for his first season as Nebraska head coach. Instead of having a traditional practice — Rhule has divided his team down the middle for two different practices.

Rhule took the first group, which consisted of many of the older player, for the first couple of hours of camp before switching them out with a younger group that would be given the same drills. It’s all about getting the most out of everyone’s time on a daily basis.

“We tried to divide it as close to half as we could. … We tried to divide it even,” Rhule said after the first day of fall camp. “… It wasn’t only the young guys — most of them were in the young group. Some older guys had to go down and help out. But for them, instead of running with the second group, and now they get to go with the first group. But we tried to divide it even.”

Rhule has a rare opportunity to restore a once proud national power to glory once again — and while this set-up might seem small on the surface, it’s the building blocks for Nebraska to rise from the ashes.

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 that packed Memorial Stadium for a spring game back in April. Based on the incredible turnout for a scrimmage — just imagine what the Huskers’ first home game will feel like this fall.

“The most important thing to me is reps. As I told the young guys at the end, a lot of places in the country, the freshmen showed up and they got five reps in practice today, but our guys all got 40,” Rhule said. “So it’s just kind of what Coach [Tom] Osborne told me: ‘Make sure they all get reps.’ It’s a little bit of a strain on the coaches and the staff because you’re having to be out there for a little bit longer. But it’s fun. And it’s good to see them – they’re personalities.”

Whether this will pay off for the Huskers in the long run remains to be seen, but all questions will be answered during Nebraska’s season opener on Thursday, Aug. 31 on the road against Minnesota. More interestingly, the Huskers will travel to Boulder to play Deion Sanders and the new-look Colorado Buffaloes on Sept. 9 the following weekend.