House Rhules Podcast #16 – Year Three Is About Nebraska Football Culture, Not Matt Rhule | Ep. 2
Date: August 29, 2025
Host: Matt Rhule
Co-Host: Anthony “the Cuz” Gargano
Guests: Elijah Judy (Nebraska player, with family), Ben Newman (performance coach)
Overview
In this episode, Matt Rhule and co-host Anthony Gargano dive into the culture behind Nebraska football as the team enters Rhule’s pivotal third season at the helm. The discussion covers the evolution of team identity, recruiting and transfer portal realities, camp philosophy, leadership strategies, and personal development—both on and off the field. The episode also features touching interviews: a family-oriented segment with defensive lineman Elijah Judy and his partner, and a motivating conversation with acclaimed performance coach Ben Newman about finding one's “burn” (deep motivation).
Key Topics & Insights
1. The Significance of Year Three in Building Team Culture
Time: [01:01]–[04:21]
- Year three is when the program’s identity shifts from “Coach Rhule’s way” to “what we do.”
- “It’s no longer what coach wants us to do... it’s like, hey, this is what we do. And I think once the players take it over, man, it’s like I’m just along for the ride now.” – Matt Rhule [01:39]
- Rhule reflects on his third years at Temple and Baylor and how hard early seasons cement long-term success.
- "The players, they see you in those moments... and yet you're not changing up on them... You're out there every Monday night, eating chicken and watching Monday Night Football... promising them like, hey, go through this now and someday it's going to be our turn..." – Rhule [02:59]
2. Transition Points and Offseason Growth
Time: [04:21]–[06:38]
- For Rhule, the culture-building “really started” after last season’s tough loss to Iowa.
- Describes the journey through adversity after the Pinstripe Bowl and stresses the importance of offseason work and team bonding.
- “I was like, yo, guys, stop looking up. They know you're not from here.” [04:32] — on taking small-town Nebraska players to NYC for the bowl game.
3. Transfer Portal—Challenges and Successes
Time: [06:38]–[09:51]
- Rhule talks candidly about the anxiety and reality of the transfer portal:
- Supportive of players who want opportunities elsewhere, but admits to “mourning” for those he’s invested in when they leave.
- Shares humorous and tense moments:
- “For 12 seconds, my heart stopped.” — Rhule [07:00], after getting a late-night call from promising receiver Jecorey Barney only to learn he was just calling about steak.
- Highlights value pickups from lower divisions and maintains optimism:
- “We brought in some dogs, too... when the portal came out, man, we ended up on top.” – Rhule [09:51]
4. Embracing Change in College Football Landscape
Time: [09:51]–[11:07]
- Rhule embraces NIL, facilities, and Nebraska’s unique fanbase as advantages instead of obstacles.
- “Don’t complain about it, man. Just be about it... It's like Eagles fans.” [10:01]
- Chose Nebraska in part for the potential: “no debt, elite facilities, sells out every game.”
5. Spring Game and Community
Time: [10:50]–[13:12]
- Discusses the controversial decision to cancel the traditional spring game:
- Due to the portal, didn’t want to “showcase” players for poaching.
- Instead, held spirited competitions and unique scrimmages for less-established players.
- Observes the passionate Nebraska fanbase: “They are impressive, but they’re also used to greatness... We gotta give them good football.” [12:34]
6. Camp Philosophy—Old School Meets Modern
Time: [13:12]–[16:48]
- Rhule insists on physical, demanding camps influenced by mentors like Andy Reid and Bill Belichick.
- “You can’t prepare for doing hard things by doing easy things.” [13:12]
- Background on learning situational football from Belichick: “He was like, ‘Hey, Matt, no scripts’... this is beautiful.”
- Seeks players who are more than athletes: “I want my guys... to understand the game of football.” [14:18]
7. Building a Sustainable, Player-Led Culture
Time: [15:08]–[16:48]
- Talks about having players like Dylan (whose father played in the NFL) as tone-setters.
- “That’s culture. The culture is not me. The culture is getting the right guys here along with me, hopefully, where we’re all on the same page...” [16:43]
8. Learning from Nebraska's Rich History
Time: [16:48]–[19:56]
- Shares stories from meeting Husker legends Tom Osborne and Frank Solich.
- “How foolish would I be to not say what they did?” [17:11]
- Tactics: Study what worked at Temple, Baylor, and Nebraska, but adapt it to your identity.
9. Personal Approach to Game Day
Time: [19:56]–[20:53]
- How Rhule manages game-day emotions; adjusts leadership “vibe” depending on team mood.
- “With the work we’ve done and what we’ve been through, man, I’m excited.” [20:50]
Office Hours: Player Life with Elijah Judy & Family
Time: [23:09]–[28:33]
-
Pregnancy Announcement: Elijah and Maya are expecting a girl.
- “Welcome to the club.” – Rhule upon hearing the news [23:24]
-
Family updates: Their son Koda is still understanding what being a big brother will mean.
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On Lincoln, NE: Both feel it’s their true home.
- “Here is where I’m supposed to be. I feel like... it’s a place I can call home after football.” – Elijah Judy [24:58]
-
Food & Cooking:
- Elijah enjoys cooking—specialties include pasta with rose sauce and soul food.
- Friendly banter about kitchen roles: Elijah puts on headphones and cooks solo, while Maya prefers to collaborate.
-
Graduation and Role Modeling:
- Elijah reflects on being the first in his family to graduate from university, hoping to inspire his son Koda to follow his path.
- “It just feels great for me. And then, give something for Koda to look up to...” – Elijah Judy [27:27]
- Elijah reflects on being the first in his family to graduate from university, hoping to inspire his son Koda to follow his path.
Special Interview: Ben Newman on Motivation and Leadership
Time: [28:33]–[46:49]
Roots of The "Burn"
- Ben Newman explains his personal “burn” began after losing his mother as a child—leading to a life focused on adversity-driven growth.
- “My mom came to the dinner table with an IV stand... So there was this fire... something that I gained from my mom...” – Newman [31:12]
- Contrasts "the burn" (deep emotional driver) with just "the why" (surface-level goals):
- "The burn tends to be something deeper that actually ignites the why and purpose... sometimes there's a darkness to it." – Newman [33:44]
Leadership, Balance, and Growth
- Discusses intentionality with time and relationships.
- "I'm very, very intentional with who I spend my time with..." – Newman [39:42]
- Rhule highlights family/work tipping points—a close friend taught him never to walk into his house on the phone, to be fully present for his children:
- "You pull up—if you’re on a call, you sit in your car... you never walk in the house on your phone." – Rhule [40:32]
Handling Resistance and Coaching Styles
- Newman differentiates between power and authority—leading by inspiration, not coercion.
- “Power is when we force or coerce somebody to do our will. Authority is when you empower or inspire somebody...” – Newman [42:02]
- On overcoming resistance, he uses probing questions to align behavior with ambitions.
Common Leadership Pitfalls
- The biggest mistake? Letting ego get in the way of collaboration and improvement.
- “Leaders who tend to struggle think that ego in a big form is necessary...” – Newman [44:10]
- Warns against isolation—“These coaches who try to do it by themselves, you end up struggling...”
On Balance and Continuous Improvement
- Emphasizes investing in others’ strengths and leveraging help to maintain balance.
- “When you leverage to other people to help you protect your time, it allows you to be very intentional with your time.” – Newman [39:42]
Anything But Football: Food & Downtime
Time: [47:19]–[52:26]
- Rhule’s game-day eating tradition: “I need a slice of pizza from the best pizza place in town. And I need... the hotel’s pigs in a blanket.” [47:56]
- Iconic Philly pizza tales: “I give an itinerary, and if they don’t follow it, I’m pissed.” [48:45]
- Away-game routines:
- Visits stadiums to acclimate, sees movies with the team, then cleverly relates film plots to football strategy.
- “I always try to tie the movie into the game somehow.” [50:25]
The Power of Visualization & Mindset
Time: [52:27]–[end]
- Rhule is a passionate believer in visualization—not just imagining success, but also mentally rehearsing adversity.
- "A lot of guys make the mistake of just visualizing all the good stuff... I visualize my reaction. I stay calm, I stay neutral..." [52:40]
- Shares a humorous story about getting too hyped from visualization meditation and not being able to sleep before a game.
- Emphasizes the need for training positivity and regulating negative thoughts.
Notable Quotes & Moments
- “Don’t complain about it, man. Just be about it.” – Matt Rhule [10:01]
- “Welcome to the club.” – Matt Rhule to Elijah Judy (on expecting a daughter) [23:24]
- “It just feels great for me. And then, give something for Koda to look up to...” – Elijah Judy [27:27]
- “My mom came to the dinner table with an IV stand... there was this fire...” – Ben Newman [31:12]
- “The burn is something deeper that ignites the why and purpose.” – Ben Newman [33:44]
- “Leaders who tend to struggle think that ego in a big form is necessary to prove that they’re a leader.” – Ben Newman [44:10]
- “With the work we’ve done and what we’ve been through, man, I’m excited.” – Matt Rhule [20:50]
Important Timestamps
| Segment | Topic | Timestamp |
|---------|-------|----------|
| Opening & Year 3 Culture | Main theme and culture shift | [01:01]
| Transfer Portal | Challenges & anecdotes | [06:38]
| NIL & Nebraska's Advantages | Embracing change | [10:01]
| Spring Game Strategy & Fanbase | Adapting traditions | [11:07]
| Camp Philosophy | Prep for hard things | [13:12]
| Legacy & History | Learning from Osborne/Solich | [16:48]
| Office Hours | Interview with Elijah Judy & family | [23:09]
| Performance Coach Ben Newman | Finding your Burn | [28:33]
| Food & Anything But Football | Pre-game eats, downtime | [47:19]
| Visualization | Mindset, performance prep | [52:26]
Tone & Takeaways
The conversation buzzes with authenticity, humility, and locker-room energy. Rhule’s transparency and openness about adversity and adaptation run throughout the episode, balanced by Gargano’s curiosity and humor. Guest Ben Newman’s emotional candor is especially impactful in connecting personal struggle to professional clarity, while the family segment with Elijah Judy adds warmth and grounding to the team's culture.
Fans and newcomers alike will leave with a vivid sense of Nebraska’s behind-the-scenes grind, the personal motivations of its leaders, and practical wisdom on leadership and life purpose—where football, family, and faith in the process all intersect.