Nebraska football coach Matt Rhule is quite relieved that his team was able to log a win in the Pinstripe Bowl on Saturday. While he’s talked a good game about this being a learning experience and just a chance to prepare for 2025, it was clear after the game that a loss would have gone down differently.
More specifically, the loss would have gone down differently for his seniors. A 7-6 season just feels different than a 6-7 campaign.
The Nebraska football coach said as much to the media when he spoke after his squad’s 20-15 win over Boston College.
Nebraska football coach talks sending seniors off in style
“Yeah, I don’t think you should say 6-7. That’s such a miserable thought right now. Be positive, guys. We won a bowl game. I’m with you. But seriously, that was in our head. Again, the program is still going to do what the program is going to do moving forward. We have the right plan. We know what we’re doing. The guys know what they’re doing.”
“I think the biggest thing was we were sitting out there — it took five years, but I can say I’m a winner. I can finally say, I’m a winner. They’re winners in everything in life. You go out there, they keep score, and they’ve got to make plays.”
“Even as the game — I said three things to them yesterday. I said, number one, I want you to wake up excited. Bowl games are usually about who’s the most excited team.”
“Number two, watch all these games that are happening. One team gets up, another team comes back. No one wants to play 60 minutes — once they get up, they think the game is over.”
“I said, three, there’s going to be a time in the game where, oh, here we go, and I said, double down. Enough with the I’m nervous and just say we’re going to do this.”
“Even when they blocked the punt and ran it, it was a one-score game. I was like, we’re going to find a way to get it done.”
“I think that’s the biggest thing, is that finally, finally they can walk off the field and say we got it done.”
That’s key to the Nebraska football program under Rhule now. Getting it done. The next step is getting it done in style.