Steven Sipple: BTN analyst Gerry DiNardo regards Matt Rhule as “perfect fit” for Nebraska in at least one regard
Gerry DiNardo is a college football aficionado. So, he certainly understands the historical significance of Nebraska’s program.
“I’ve always been a guy who’s watched Nebraska,” the 70-year-old BTN analyst said recently on “Early Break” (93.7 FM in Lincoln). “I’ve always had this saying: If you’ve had greatness in your past, you can have greatness in your future.”
DiNardo paused.
“Nebraska’s testing me on that theory,” he said.
To be sure, Nebraska’s endured seven losing seasons out of the last eight. The spiral has many people wondering if the Huskers can regain the powerhouse status it achieved to the highest degree under head coaches Bob Devaney and Tom Osborne.
Is Matt Rhule the answer? He intrigues folks, in part, because he’s a dynamic speaker and excellent communicator in general. He intrigues me because, unlike the program’s last two head coaches, he seems fully committed to building his team from the inside out. He says he’s a “trenches” guy at heart. That’s what the program needs. Desperately.
As is the case with DiNardo, Rhule, 48, acutely understands Nebraska’s historical significance in the college game and seems to be on a mission to return the program to exalted status.
DiNardo has watched NU closely since 2011
DiNardo has watched Nebraska more closely than ever since it joined the Big Ten in time for the 2011 football season. It becomes evident he’s paid attention as he runs down the most recent Husker head coaches.
I always enjoy hearing how those outside the Husker realm size up the program.
“With Bo (Pelini), I thought he was a terrific coach,” DiNardo said. “Obviously, public relations wasn’t his strong suit.”
“Mike Riley, I think he’s a wonderful guy, but not a great messenger, right?” DiNardo said. “I mean, you’d have to be with him one-on-one to really know the kind of really good guy that he is.”
“With Scott Frost, I think Scott thought that just because he played there, he didn’t have to reach out (to fans),” DiNardo continued.
Public relations wasn’t Frost’s strong suit, either.
Then there’s the new guy.
“I think Matt (Rhule) is a guy who is so approachable,” said DiNardo, a former head coach for three different universities, including LSU from 1995 to 1999.
In at least one regard, the LSU job reminds DiNardo of Nebraska’s.
“That state owns you,” he said. “You’re their property.”
DiNardo said in those situations, a head coach alienating the fan base, or being aloof, is counterproductive. Pelini tended to alienate fans, as did Frost.
On the other hand, Rhule has embraced the state of Nebraska. He’s given it a big ol’ bear hug.
Along those lines, DiNardo made an interesting point.
“He’s the same way on the field,” the former coach said. “He’s not two different people. I think he’s approachable for the players. He’s approachable for the coaches. He coaches different groups. He’ll move around (to various position groups).”
“I hate to say this because ultimately most of us get fired,” DiNardo added. “But it seems like he’s a perfect fit. And it’s not just about football at Nebraska. You have to be outwardly thinking toward your fan base. I can see why he’s so good at it.”
Of course, there exists a bottom line to all this — other than W’s and L’s.
“When the messenger has the ability to deliver the message, it usually works,” DiNardo said. “That’s what I see in Matt Rhule.”
Nebraska will be tested in trenches immediately
Soon after Rhule was hired by Nebraska in late November, a central theme emerged for his program. He immediately emphasized stellar offensive and defensive line play. He also wants those players to be prominent leaders in the locker room.
Your front sevens must be stout, he says, “or you’ll just never be built on a solid foundation.”
During BTN’s annual bus tour to each conference program — Nebraska was the first stop, on August 4 — DiNardo locks in hard on offensive and defensive lines.
“In Nebraska’s case, I thought its offensive line was fine,” he said.
OK, “fine” is better than it’s been in recent seasons.
“I actually thought the line of scrimmage in general was better than I anticipated,” he said.
Is that an analyst damning Nebraska with faint praise?
Perhaps.
Ah, but there’s a beauty to this discussion at it applies to the coming season. That is, Nebraska will be tested immediately — in the trenches and elsewhere — August 31 in Minneapolis.
“Minnesota has only two (starting) offensive linemen coming back,” DiNardo noted. “They have a new quarterback. They have some questions. But what jumps out about Minnesota is, that’s a seven-year program. P.J. Fleck has been there seven years. They have depth everywhere.”
DiNardo, though, returns the conversation squarely to the trenches.
“I think the offensive line coach for Minnesota is really good,” he said of Brian Callahan. “He’s constantly developing offensive linemen. The defensive line is long at defensive end. They’re thick at defensive tackle. So, the difference (from Nebraska) is, from 10,000 feet, you can tell this might be this guy (Rhule’s) first year in a program, and this might be a guy (Fleck) who’s been at the program for several years.
“It’s established. It has more depth than Nebraska. Obviously, everybody knows the routine at Minnesota. It’s the same routine these kids have been going through since they’ve been there.”
So, deep breaths, Nebraska fans.
I think Nebraska fans generally will be patient with Rhule, so long as there’s discernible progress as he builds the program. Bottom line, it’s an educated fan base that longs to see good, sound football. It knows what good football looks like, feels like. That’s not too much to ask for, for now.
BTN analyst likes what he sees in Jeff Sims
As for DiNardo’s assessment of Minnesota’s 2023 team, I was struck by his comments about quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis, a 6-foot-4, 205-pound sophomore.
“Kaliakmanis is a great talent,” the former coach said. “He can spin it. I doubt the Gophers are going to be 70% run like they were with Tanner Morgan and Mo (Ibrahim). I mean, this Kaliakmanis could be a big-time quarterback.”
Regarding Nebraska’s Jeff Sims, the conversation always intrigues me because he wants to be known as a pass-first quarterback — and yes, he can also “spin it” at a high level — but man, he can run.
“I said this to Howard Griffith on air, Sims looks like a big, physical tailback,” DiNardo said of the 6-foot-4, 225-pound transfer from Georgia Tech. “Not that Nebraska’s going to be an option team.”
That said, designed QB runs are part of Nebraska’s offense — and a lot of teams’ offenses — “because it helps them get the numbers the way they want in the box,” DiNardo said.
Sims fits the scheme well, said DiNardo, adding that Nebraska’s passing game was behind its running game in terms of execution when the BTN bus tour stopped in Lincoln early in the month.
That’s to be expected, especially with a quarterback in his first year in the system.
All things considered, greatness probably is a ways a way for Nebraska’s program.
But there are reasons for optimism among Husker faithful, starting with Rhule’s emphasis on excellent line play.
He conveys his messages exceptionally well. And, as I’ve said before, it matters.
The post Steven Sipple: BTN analyst Gerry DiNardo regards Matt Rhule as “perfect fit” for Nebraska in at least one regard appeared first on On3.
