New Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule arrives from the NFL with plenty of expectations to revitalize a recently dormant Cornhusker program. In speaking to the media, Rhule expressed how much he is enjoying his time in Lincoln thus far.

“I’m having the time of my life,” Rhule said. “This is as happy as I’ve been in a long, long time.”

Rhule looks to right the big red ship after Nebraska has failed to make a bowl game since 2016. At Baylor, Rhule took the Bears from a 1-11 mark in 2017 to an 11-3 finish in 2019.

“I feel a tremendous obligation to win early,” Rhule said. “We want to be a program where everything is earned. I tell the guys, if you want this or that, you got to earn it.”

Rhule said that while teams generally have slow starts, coaches take a while to transition to new jobs.

“Next year will be so much easier, the guys will know what to expect,” Rhule said. “Every day they walk in now, they’re just like ‘What’re we doing today.’ What I need to find out is: Are they going to be the type of team that just goes out and plays and not worrying about what happens? That’s the only way you can play this game.”

Rhule also reflected on his time with the Carolina Panthers, and explained that the NFL better prepared him to handle a college job. He cited that he leans toward walkthroughs as opposed to meetings as a result now.

“We’re a caring, not coddling place,” Rhule said in reference to the culture of his program. “Everybody knows where they stand and what is expected.”