Big Ten Media Days: Matt Rhule ‘confident’ in Huskers entering Year Two as Nebraska head coach
Indianapolis, Ind. (WOWT) - No longer the new kid on the block, Huskers head coach Matt Rhule took the main podium at Big Ten Football Media Days ahead of his second season at the helm of Nebraska football.
Rhule ended his opening statement by saying, “The guys are getting it done in the weight room. They’re getting it done in the classroom. Now we’ve got to get it down on Saturdays.”
With the Big Ten growing to 18 teams on August 2nd, the Huskers will play two new conference foes. Nebraska will host UCLA on the first Saturday in November, then travel to Los Angeles to take on USC.
“This is the best league. This is the NFL of college football in my mind. It stretches from coast to coast. Different time zones, different weather,” said Rhule.
Entering November last season, the Huskers were one win away from going to a bowl game. After going 0-4 in November, losing three of their last four games by three points and the fourth by seven points in overtime, the ‘close losses’ narrative continues to follow Nebraska football.
“Close losses at Nebraska are not an affliction. We don’t need to get out a voodoo doll,” said Rhule. “We need to hold the ball properly and knock it out. Make one more catch. Have a little more confidence. And go make one more play and win a couple of games and all of sudden we’ll be talking in a different tone.”
Rhule remains focused on improving Nebraska’s turnover margin, which was second to last in the country last season at -17.
“When I walk through our locker rooms and when I walk through our weight rooms and I when I walk out on the field, I see a confident team. I see a team that understands that games are going to come down to the final seconds. And the narrative about close losses. We’re going to turn that into close wins.”
The Huskers begin camp in seven days on July 31st. On Saturday, August 3rd Nebraska Athletics in partnership with 1890 Nebraska will hold an open football practice at Memorial Stadium called Big Red Preview. It is an NIL event and tickets are $25 each.
Nebraska opens the 2024 season at home on Saturday, August 31st as the Huskers welcome UTEP to Lincoln.
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