It wouldn't be a terrible thing if Nebraska football fans could convince ESPN analyst Paul Finebaum to keep Matt Rhule's name out of his mouth. It's not as though one of the best-known rage baiters in college sports knows Rhule particularly well. Nor is it likely he pays much attention to situations longer than he absolutely needs to. So when he offers up an opinion on what Rhule "wants to do" in his professional career, it's reasonable to take it with a massive grain of salt.
The Huskers' head coach has taken Finebaum being flat wrong on his read on a subject with good humor in the past. Still, when the analyst talks out of school about the Penn State situation, it's a safe bet he'd rather be asked than have the man guess at his motivations.
Paul Finebaum reignites Matt Rhule–Penn State talk despite Nebraska coach’s response
This week, Finebaum, never one to hold off on an opinion until he gets the whole story, claimed that Rhule's Nebraska football press conference on Monday was enough evidence for him that Rhule wants the newly opened position at Penn State.
"He wants the job," Finebaum said earlier in the week. "There's a lot of reasons. He played at Penn State, and his best friend, by the way, is the Athletic Director (Pat Kraft), who was his boss at Temple, where Matt Rhule had great success. He hasn't had a lot since then with the (Carolina) Panthers, well, he did at Baylor, excuse me. But he hasn't had it at Nebraska.
"But I think he fits there well, and Penn State is about fit. I don’t think anybody can fit that job better. (Curt) Cignetti is now out of the picture. Matt Rhule, to me, is the de facto choice. I would hire him today, although that’s not possible since he’s coaching at Nebraska."
For his part, Rhule has talked glowingly about Penn State, as Kraft is indeed a good friend of his and he is a Nittany Lion alum. On the other hand, it feels like Rhule all but closed the door entirely on Thursday when he called Nebraska a destination job and finished his comments about the opening by saying, "They'll find the right coach for them, whoever that is."