WATCH: Nebraska releases hype video for spring practices

It’s springtime, and you know what that means; it’s time to strap on the pads and helmets and hit the field. College football programs across the country are starting their spring practices this week, and one of those eager to hit the field resides in Lincoln, NE. The Nebraska Cornhuskers are eager to put boots to the ground and erase the last eight years of struggling. And if Nebraska fans weren’t certain of that before, the program released this hype video to show they mean business this spring.

Volume up.

The sound of football is back. pic.twitter.com/EbaMONfFF7

— Nebraska Football (@HuskerFBNation) March 21, 2023

After a rough 2022 season, the Cornhuskers were in need of a new face and a new leader for the team. Enter into the picture, Matt Rhule. The former NFL coach was hired shortly after Nebraska’s final game of the season. Rhule was brought in to turn around a once prestigious powerhouse in college football. And he, too, is excited about the opportunity that has been presented.

Rhule has created a track record among the college ranks for being able to unearth forgotten college football programs. At his last stop, at Baylor, he turned around a Bears team that went 7-6 in 2016; the year before he arrived. And by the time he left the program in 2019, Baylor had finished arguably their best season in program history at 11-1 in the regular season and earned a trip to face off against Georgia in the Sugar Bowl.

Rhule opens up on how special first day of spring was at Nebraska

After the Cornhuskers’ first spring practice, Rhule opened up on just how special the first day of spring practice was for him heading the program.

“Oh yeah, and I couldn’t sleep last night. I probably fell asleep about 1 A.M. (I) woke up about 4:15 A.M. And that’s out of excitement, you know,” said Rhule. “You’ve heard me talk a couple of times about deserving the right. I think the guys have deserved the right to attack spring ball from the work they did in the winter. And so, I was anxious to get out there with them today.”

The powers that be at Nebraska are anticipating Rhule to help turn around their once prestigious program. In the 1990s, the Cornhuskers were a consistent threat to take home the national championship. Since those days, Nebraska has struggled to stay consistently relevant and even challenge for the Big Ten crown. But if Rhule can channel his excitement from this first day of spring practice and keep the energy going into and through the regular season, Nebraska has enough talent on their roster to have a turnaround season in 2023. Not only that, but he could lead Nebraska to do something they have yet to do since 2016 — make a bowl game.