Nebraska Football is now a ‘caring not coddling’ environment

Nebraska football head coach put his stamp on the program in a big way on Thursday as he explained his staff’s approach compared to the past.

Make no mistake, Matt Rhule is a “player’s coach.” His relationships with former players like Christian McCaffrey make that very obvious. It can also be said that Scott Frost was a “player’s coach.” His press conferences were almost notorious for seemingly stepping in front of any vitriol that might be coming for a player from a member of the press or fan base.

Frost was also someone who credited Nebraska football for their loyalty despite his regime piling up the losses at a near-historic rate. On Thursday, Rhule made it clear that is one particular way he wants his stay in Lincoln to be drastically different.

In staking his claim on what he wants the culture to be under his watch, the new Nebraska football head coach said that his team isn’t going to “lose and thank the fans.” And it sure feels that was a kind of backhanded slap at not just Frost but the last couple of coaches that have led the Cornhuskers.

Far too often over the last few years coaches and players have had to thank fans for their dedication despite the losses. It’s been a very familiar situation in post game press conferences. While he didn’t promise that would change (because he’s not someone who would make a promise like that) Rhule was direct in saying that’s not why he and his staff are in Lincoln.

Nebraska Football is a caring not coddling environment under Matt Rhule

The new Husker coach also introduced a catch phrase that will almost certainly get a lot of run over the next weeks, months and hopefully years. He said that his regime is a “caring not coddling environment.”

It’s not hard to understand what he means there. That was easily one of the most annoying things about Frost’s approach.

Week in and week out, the former head coach would talk about how the team had a great week of practice. Usually one of the best he’d ever seen. And then they’d lay another egg on the field.

Matt Rhule is a player’s coach, but it appears that he’s someone who isn’t going to be talking about how well the team played if they didn’t play well. He believes and I believe that’s something this program badly needs.