LINCOLN, Neb. — Nebraska’s next leader in athletics must act with “unbelievable urgency” and boldness in moving the school forward during a pivotal era in college sports, football coach Matt Rhule said Monday.
In his first public comments since Trev Alberts left Nebraska after less than three years as athletic director for the same position at Texas A&M, Rhule said he’s strongly committed to the university but urged leaders at the state and school levels to select an AD who works with the passion and foresight displayed by Alberts.
“We can’t take a step backward,” Rhule said. “We have to take a step forward. The thing that I’ll say is we have to be unabashed in our desire to be the best. We cannot worry about optics. We cannot worry about what people say.
“The way you win in college athletics today is you invest. And I cannot think of a state that knows that better than this amazing state.”
Rhule, at the beginning of a news conference to discuss the Huskers’ upcoming spring football practice, spoke for 12 minutes about Alberts’ exit and the state of the department before taking a question.
Alberts, 53, departed from his alma mater in the days before its men’s and women’s basketball teams were selected Sunday to participate in the NCAA Tournament…
