‘I’m all in’: Matt Rhule comments on contract speculation

‘That’s his story to tell,’ Nebraska football coach says of Trev Alberts’ departure

LINCOLN, Neb. (WOWT) – Nebraska football head coach Matt Rhule addressed reporters Monday morning, ahead of the opening of spring camp next week.

He began as expected with nearly 15 minutes of comments on the sudden departure of athletic director Trev Alberts, who left his alma mater to take the same position at Texas A&M last week. Rhule said Alberts called him while he was on a father-son trip and shared the news.

“I wish them the best,” he said. “This business is hard. People move from job to job…just really grateful for them and sad to see them go. Everyone’s gonna wonder why Trev left, and that’s his story to tell.”

Rhule didn’t hold back when discussing the men’s and women’s basketball teams’ Field of 64 matches with Texas A&M.

“I’m mad we’re playing Texas A&M in both games, because now the games are about the athletic director leaving,” he said.

ON THE FUTURE OF HUSKER ATHLETICS

Rhule expressed appreciation for interim NU System President Chris Kabourek’s leadership, as well as interim AD Dennis LeBlanc’s willingness to step up to the plate.

“Dennis is what’s great about college athletics. He cares about the student. I trust him, and he’s done an amazing job for us as sport administrator, and just excited to see him.”

“I think this is a tremendous opportunity,” Rhule said of the time of transition at the top of the NU system. “Everyone’s going to wonder why Trev left, and that’s his story to tell. He was very forthcoming with me and I have no complaints about the way he handled anything.”

Rhule said this is the time to re-examine Husker Athletics and the university as a whole, and that Alberts left the place better than he found it.

“This is an amazing place. I would not send my son here if I didn’t think this was an amazing place.”

He said it’s a tough time losing someone of Trev Alberts’ caliber, but he has faith in the future of the department.

“We have to be unabashed in our desire to be the best,” Rhule said. “We can’t worry about optics. We can’t worry about what people say. The way you win in college athletics today is you invest, and I can’t think of a state that knows that better than Nebraska.”

He wants to help Nebraska return to a place where everyone wants to come and see how it’s run.

Rhule said this is a pivotal time in college athletics and that UNL’s next athletic director needs to be fundamentally strong and “fight in the Big Ten.”

Rhule also praised both Husker basketball teams, saying “there’s so much that’s good” about sports at UNL. Winter sports, he said, are helping to raise Husker Athletics’ profile.

“I’m all in,” he said about rumors over his contract situation. “I’ve loved the people that I’ve met, and we’re not going anywhere unless (they) kick us out.”