This staff is different
- Thread starter Antwill
- Start date
So far there is a Hell of a Lot to like!
This is the difference between being entitled to something and wanting to earn something.
Rhule is doing what I thought Frost would do...
I'm reserving judgement until we start winning on the field.
I'm old enough to remember people saying this exact same thing when news broke about Scott Frost apparently making the players squat again
Exactly. A few months into the Frost era, things seemed pretty good too. He signed a top 25 transition recruiting class, and got his #1 QB target. The problems began after they started playing football.
got everyone in the state to hate his guts
now his last name is synonymous with shit & he will never, ever be welcomed back
ever
2 part question
1. Do you think he shows for the 50 year celebration/reunion of the 97 championship team?
2. And if so is it with or without a liver transplant?
The big question is, will it translate into wins on the field?
Its not paywalled. its probably your ad-blocker.
anyhow, it talks about
Foley and Rhule reaching out to the Foltz family. Then Foley coming to Grand Island, checking out local places, then meeting with GISH, then other local schools. Everyone seems to think he is very genuine.
Also talks a bit about Rhule the week after he was hired he wanted all Nebraska kids with an offer to meet with him in Lincoln.
Decently long article. Just outlining how our staff really seems like they are doing what they say they are going to do and make kids in state a real priority and lay real foundations. Local coaches are all loving it so far.
if he does he should be booed from the second he steps off the plane to the second he takes off again
he is not welcome in Nebraska ever again for any reason
Apparently a lot of drinking and golf simulation.
If link below doesn't work, I pasted the article below it. Sorry! Only text; I have OWH as an App.
Shatel: Nebraska assistants making invaluable impressions on high school coaches, fan base
The jury will be out for a while on Matt Rhule’s NU staff, but the coaches are making it extra tough for Husker fans to be cynical. That's because they're
ALERT TOP STORY
Shatel: Nebraska assistants making invaluable impressions on high school coaches, fan base
Tom Shatel Updated 1 hr ago
Here's a breakdown of the ten Nebraska on-field assistants and their salaries that have been released so far.
Some coaches, Gerald Foltz says, talk the talk. But not many walk the walk.
On Jan. 12, Nebraska assistant football coach Ed Foley walked the walk all the way to Foltz’ house in northwest Grand Island.
Foley, the special teams coach for Matt Rhule, was in Grand Island to introduce himself to several high school coaches in the area.
But first, he wanted to know all about Sam.
It’s been over six years since Nebraska punter Sam Foltz passed away in a summer car accident. Six years since the tearful funeral for a native son. Six years since Gerald and Jill Foltz allowed Nebraska to grieve with them that 2016 season.
Gerald still works his farm in Greeley. His wife Jill recently retired after 34 years as a school nurse. They go to some Husker football games.
They don’t hear much from Nebraska football anymore.
Then one day two months ago, Gerald got a text.
It was new Nebraska football coach Matt Rhule.
Wanting to reach out and introduce himself.
Then came last week. Gerald received a text a couple weeks ago from Foley asking if he could stop by the house.
Gerald was thrilled.
“First coach to come to the house since Sam’s recruitment,” Gerald said. “He (Foley) just wanted to reach out and find out more about (Sam), more about Nebraska football and the state.
“He must have been here over an hour.”
The career football coach from New Jersey and the Nebraska farmer talked about their backgrounds. They talked about family. They talked about life.
And about Sam, the punter, the Husker, the kid who liked to play sports and hunt.
Then it was time to go. But not before Jill took a photo of the new friends, Gerald and Ed.
Foley, 55, looks every part of an old-school Jersey guy. But he’s adept at social media. That night, he left bread crumbs all over Twitter.
Next stop: Sin City Diner in downtown Grand Island, where Foley posted a photo of a hot dog covered with cheese and jalapeños.
Next stop: Big Red Treats, home of ice cream and hot cocoa-flavored popcorn.
A guy wearing Husker football gear walked into Dana and Julie Wright's downtown shop. Said he was one of the new coaches.
“We just started talking to him,” said Dana Wright.
“He chatted our ear off for 10 or 15 minutes. He was taking pictures of the Big Red Sign and the ice cream machines. He really dove in.
“He said he saw the “Big Red sign" and thought he better come check it out. Just seemed like he was ingraining himself in Nebraska culture.
“Being a Nebraska football fan, I love to hear that.”
Foley left with bags of hot cocoa and Caramel popcorn. And Julie told him she always wanted their popcorn to make it to Memorial Stadium.
“It’s making it one step closer,” Foley told her.
“It’s making it to my office — if I don’t eat it all at home.”
Next stop: Grand Island High School.
Foley walked into Jeff Tomlin’s office at 6:20 a.m. the next morning. Tomlin, the Grand Island High football coach, talked to Foley for 20 minutes.
Then Tomlin took Foley downstairs to show him the Grand Island High School Hall of Fame wall, to see photos of Islander legends Bobby Reynolds, Tom Rathman, Harry Grimminger, Jeff Finn, Phil Ellis, Mike Anderson and, of course, coach Ken Fischer.
“He makes it all about you, not about him and what he’s done,” Tomlin said of Foley. “Our school, our program, our prospects. Ways to get hold of him.
“He was really interested in my history and the history of the school, which I think is neat.”
There will be ample time to find out if Foley can coach special teams. If Rhule and his staff are up for this task in the Big Ten.
The jury will be out for a while on Rhule’s NU staff, which includes several coaches he’s had ties with in his previous jobs at Temple and Baylor and the Carolina Panthers, a staff that didn't require a $7 million salary pool.
What they have is a head coach with a track record of turning around programs. And they appear to be on board with Rhule's experienced singular plan.
And they appear to have an endless supply of energy and passion.
That's making it doubly hard for Husker fans who want to be cynics and guard against hype and hope in another new staff.
That’s because Rhule and his staff are hitting Husker fans right square in the heart.
They’re showing that they care about their job and where they’re doing it.
After leaving Grand Island High that morning, Foley stopped at eight other area high schools, including Central City High School, where football coach Troy Huebert tweeted:
“First Husker coach to stop by in my 10 years just to introduce themselves. Hard not to jump all in on this coaching staff. They do things differently….”
Central City is a C-1 football school, 25 miles from Grand Island.
For those skeptics who call this a public relations tour by a new staff trying to score points, well, that’s a lot of driving just for P.R.
Could it be that the first step to building a football program is to construct relationships at the absolute grassroots level first?
You bet it could.
Because some folks have seen it before. Long ago.
“They’re trying to see every coach and make a connection, which reminds me of when I was at Alliance (High School) and Dan Young used to come see us every year,” Tomlin said. “Whether we had a prospect or not.”
Tomlin coaches a Class A program with tradition. And he says he’s been visited by Buddy Wyatt (2007) and Barrett Ruud (2018-22).
“I think it’s pretty uncommon,” Tomlin said. “It’s very genuine. The fact that all of these coaches are putting in all this effort that has been lacking a little bit in my opinion.
“We’re not going to have players that help the university every year. Once in a while, we get blessed with one. The fact that they stop anyway and make a courtesy call is special.”
Long-time Omaha North coach Larry Martin thought something was different the day Rhule was hired.
“He said he wanted all the in-state kids that had an offer from Nebraska to be in Lincoln so they could meet him the Sunday after he was hired,” Martin said. “That sent a heck of a message to me.”
Martin saw Foley earlier this week, as the coach made two trips through Omaha. Two things Foley said resonated with the veteran North coach.
One: That if Rhule’s staff offers a Nebraska player, someone from the staff will be there to see him once a week. Martin said NU sent a coach to one of Tyson Terry’s wrestling matches, even knowing Terry was not wrestling that night.
Two: Martin said Foley told him that NU wants to have one-day camps for kids throughout the state. The one-day format will make it affordable for most players.
“He told me to tell any of our players they want them down there,” Martin said. “They are going to evaluate them.
“And it’s not about the money. They won’t stay in dorms and do the things that make money. These one-day camps are totally evaluation.”
As for the young coaches on Rhule’s staff, Martin said “the kids really relate to them. There’s a lot of energy.”
They haven’t won a game. But they’re winning hearts. And respect. Here at home.
That’s where it starts, right?
With effort that is topped by cheese and jalapeños.
“I think it’s kind of needed,” Foltz said. “More of a connection with the university. Just a sign that they truly care about it.”
Caring. Walking the walk. Attention to detail.
It's only January. But it feels like it’s been a while.
Tom Shatel Sports columnist
Tom is The World-Herald's lead sports columnist. Since he started in Omaha in 1991, he's covered just about anything you can imagine. Follow him on Twitter @TomShatelOWH. Phone: 402-444-1025.
It's refreshing to have a staff that is doing what they said they were going to do. Rhule has been a man of his word since they day he was announced. I hope that translates to wins in the fall.
This is what will make the difference... Kids from in-state get one-on-one attention. This will motivate many players to be better to get that opportunity. There is PR and lip service, then there is evidence of wanting to make a difference.
Two: Martin said Foley told him that NU wants to have one-day camps for kids throughout the state. The one-day format will make it affordable for most players.
“He told me to tell any of our players they want them down there,” Martin said. “They are going to evaluate them.
“And it’s not about the money. They won’t stay in dorms and do the things that make money. These one-day camps are totally evaluation.”
Two: Martin said Foley told him that NU wants to have one-day camps for kids throughout the state. The one-day format will make it affordable for most players.
“He told me to tell any of our players they want them down there,” Martin said. “They are going to evaluate them.
“And it’s not about the money. They won’t stay in dorms and do the things that make money. These one-day camps are totally evaluation.”
GREAT article. Thanks for sharing
Am I the only one that finds it sort of odd or weird or something, I can't think of the word, but a stranger wants to meet the parents of a guy he never coached that played for a coach that has not been at NU for 5 plus years?
Maybe there is some foundation in his name or something like that but it sort of just seems odd to me. I guess it doesn't matter what I think since the Dad said he loved it.
Maybe there is some foundation in his name or something like that but it sort of just seems odd to me. I guess it doesn't matter what I think since the Dad said he loved it.
Diddle coeds, show up late to practice, swill Nattie and margaritas, look generally confused and unorganized on sideline, spout off arrogant things that he couldn't back up. I could go on.
That's a good article. It shows me that Rhule and staff have a plan, they understand the value of relationships, and they are willing to put in the hard work. They'll keep one or two local D1 kids away from going to Minnesota or Iowa or Kansas State every year.
Foley is a coach in a relatively small, close-knit community of special teams players and coaches. When not in season they attend camps, seminars, etc. together. Don't forget the accident that killed Foltz also killed Mike Sadler the Michigan St Kicker and the LSU kicker escaped with stitches and burns. They were at a kicking camp in Wisconsin. Coach Foley was at Temple at the time and for all we know he was at the same camp Foltz and Sadler were at. So no, doesn't seem weird to me.
Yeah, that is a good point.
I don't even mean "weird", I totally get it if it was organic or if they knew each other or if he knew Sam and he might have, like you said.
Yeah, not weird at all. Rhule understands that in a small state like ours, we hold a special place in our hearts for legacy kids that did well at Nebraska. When guys like Foltz or Brook Berringer leave us too soon, we keep their memory alive long after they are gone. When guys like Ed show that they get it, they score points with us.
We will definitely win more than we have in the last 6 years. Can we actually compete for the big ten title and beyond is the question
Sadly, just based on talent, they are light years aways from winning the conference BUT with 12 and eventually 16+ teams making the playoffs we will see march madness like runs from teams that we though "didn't have a chance". And it will make for magical moments!
A
anon_umk0ifu6vj6zi
Guest
That was such a great lie, the frosturbators couldn’t stop falling over themselves to spread it
A
anon_umk0ifu6vj6zi
Guest
finding a kid or two that can throw a block on a punt return seems important to me. time to heal what the self driven asses have created. never accomplished anything without a little effort. kids will hear about these efforts beyond nebraska's borders.
Similar threads
