LAS VEGAS — Nebraska coach Matt Rhule on Tuesday stood up for his predecessor Scott Frost, who confronted criticism within the wake of his evaluation earlier this month that the Huskers job was mistaken for him.
Talking at Massive Ten media days, Rhule mentioned Nebraska displayed a big photograph of Frost, taken throughout his time as a quarterback on the college, this offseason within the coaches’ space on the soccer facility.
“I’ve a ton of respect for Scott,” Rhule mentioned. “And I’ve all the time been very empathetic for what he went by way of, as a result of this was his house. If you happen to guys fireplace me tomorrow, I’m simply going to return to Cape Might and sit on the seaside — return to the place I’m from. However this was his house.”
Frost, within the first yr of his second stint as head coach at UCF, was fired by Nebraska in September 2022, ending 16-31 in four-plus seasons. On July 8 at Massive 12 media days, Frost mentioned that he discovered from his expertise with the Huskers to not “take the mistaken job.” In hindsight, Frost mentioned, “it wasn’t a superb transfer.”
Rhule mentioned he understood. And he agreed with Frost.
“I do know what it felt wish to get run out of Carolina,” mentioned Rhule, who was fired after two-plus seasons with the Panthers within the NFL. “And I’d say to individuals, ‘I don’t suppose I took the correct job for me. It wasn’t the correct match.’ That doesn’t imply it’s a nasty job.”
Rhule mentioned that when he accepted Nebraska’s provide in November 2022 from Trev Alberts, the athletic director who fired Frost, “this was not a superb job.”
“We have been behind on NIL,” he mentioned. “The amenities, all the pieces was behind.”
Alberts satisfied Rhule they might remodel the situations in Lincoln. Rhule mentioned he acknowledged a robust basis.
Monetary sources on account of commitments from Lincoln’s Peed household — which based the college’s collective, 1890 Nebraska — have improved dramatically, Rhule mentioned. Nebraska has invested in vitamin and sports activities science over the previous three years. It opened the $165 million Osborne Legacy Complicated final yr and changed the grass and synthetic turf surfaces that have been outdated when Rhule took over.
The Huskers received their first bowl recreation since 2016 on the finish of final season.
“We’ve made it a superb job,” Rhule mentioned. “And we’re about to make it an awesome job. This can be among the best jobs within the nation.”
After his information convention at Massive Ten media days and a 45-minute facet session with reporters, Rhule advised The Athletic that he made a deliberate option to embrace Frost, quite than to stay mired negativity.
“I simply suppose the one approach Nebraska can grow to be a championship-caliber group once more, on this world, is to stay in constructive, not poisonous issues,” Rhule mentioned. “I want an funding from everybody. The one likelihood we now have is to be united.”
He mentioned he desires Frost to know that he’s appreciated in Lincoln.
“The issues he did at this college, I would like him to all the time really feel like he may come again and has a house right here,” Rhule mentioned.
Even when Lincoln wasn’t the correct spot for Frost as a coach.
“That being mentioned,” Rhule mentioned, “it’s the correct job for me.”
(Photograph: Lucas Peltier / Imagn Photos)
