Matt Rhule raves about Nebraska culture in first season, promises improvement

Matt Rhule raved about the culture at Nebraska throughout his first season, despite a 5-7 season and missing out on a bowl game.

Rhule said it would take time, despite the immense expectations at the school. But that’s what both parties signed up for.

Safe to say though, it seems like Rhule’s been a breath of fresh air compared to the Scott Frost era.

“I’ve never walked down the street or gone somewhere and seen someone or someone be rude to me,” Rhule said. “I’m gonna live my life. I’m going to be a father. I’m going to be a coach. If anyone’s mad at us with as hard as we work, so be it. We’re doing everything we can to get this moved in the right direction. And if anyone thinks that this is a one year deal, then you know, God bless them right?”

Rhule doesn’t want to call the beginning of his tenure a complete teardown and rebuild. Far from it, he says.

“This is a build like this is a complete and total build, not saying rebuild. I’m just saying we got to build this thing the right way and build the program. So I’m proud of what we’ve done. I’m proud of the work that all the coaches and players have put in. I think it’s awesome that there’s so much coverage and I think it’s awesome, but you know, at your darkest moments … I wake up the next day and I’m just crushed for those seniors.” 

Rhule was fired by the Carolina Panthers but landed on his feet at Nebraska. A proven program builder at Temple and Baylor, hopefully lightning strikes three times.

“I think we’re doing it the right way,” Rhule said. “So I think the amount of people that care, I mean, the fans are awesome. I think the support is awesome. I think everything about it is great. It’s what we signed up for. So, you know, I couldn’t be happier having come here. It’s been a great year for me, but I am on year two and I said after the Colorado game, this is kind of what you get when you hire me, right?”

Rhule doesn’t want to try and do it all overnight. He wants to build it the right way and make this a sustainable product.

“You just got to kind of try to do it the right way and not take quick fixes,” Rhule said. “And so I think we got to five and seven. I could not tell you how disappointed I am that we’re not in a bowl game. I cannot tell you how disappointed I am for our guys. But with that being said, I do believe like when I was 6-6 Temple in my second year that not going to a bowl game, that ignited a fire within like me and the players. 

“And the next year we won 10 games, make any predictions about next year? I’m just saying we will be a considerably better football team next year than we are this year.”