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- [00:00]
Will Compton
We talking about this week.
- [00:03]
Matt Rule
Welcome to another episode of House rules. This week, we talk about the incomparable pound for pound king Terence Bud Crawford beats Canelo. We talk about big win over Houston Christian, upcoming Big ten opener, and our conversation with busting with the boy and Nebraska. Nebraska's own Will Compton.
- [00:33]
Podcast Host
Coach. Fun game. Give us something, though, that we didn't see. Give us something behind the scenes.
- [00:42]
Matt Rule
Well, I walked in at halftime, you know, last week, and I went a little bit viral for snapping at halftime this week. It was like 38 nothing or 37. I came from 38 nothing. But, you know, we got the ball. They moved the ball at the end of the half, and then we got the ball back, and then we had two minute and we didn't go. We didn't go down. So I know our guys. I know Dylan wants to play another series. I know the offense wants. You know, they all want to end on a high note. So I go in the locker room, I tell. I tell the coaches. I go in with Dane. I'm like, what do you guys think? Should we just stop them now? And, you know, we got Big Ten playing a week. They were all like, yeah, let's put the twos in. All right, good. I say, just don't tell them, though. I want the twos just to walk out in the field and be like, we call them the red red. And they have to go out. Oh, shoot. Run out and play. I tell the defense, what do you guys want to do? They're like. They'd already been playing the twos a little bit. Same thing. Hey, whatever you do, do not. Do not tell them that they're. That they're. That they're going in. I want everyone thinking they're going in. So I walk into the team while they're making their, you know, corrections, the coaches, and I'm like, you guys okay with the way we half ended? I said, no. I said, me neither. I said, that's why the twos are going in. I'm like, once you lost your chance to play. And I walk away and I'm like, what's wrong with me? Like, I just said not to tell them, and then I told them 30 seconds later. But the funny thing is, you know, you get. You get around me long enough. Like, the guys kind of get it now. They're like, dylan. Dylan. I mean, he was irate.
- [01:58]
Will Compton
He.
- [01:58]
Matt Rule
Dylan was like, I want another series. I said, no, we have the big Ten next week. Like, you know, a couple guys got hurt before the half. I was like, we're not gonna risk it. I was like. And you knew I was gonna take you out anyway. That wasn't really because of how it ended. He goes, I know, coach. So they get me. They know me. They know the broken, you know, pieces of me. But. But yeah, that was. That was the halftime. I couldn't even follow my own plan.
- [02:17]
Podcast Host
Bro, the best is you let the cat out of the bag.
- [02:21]
Matt Rule
Thirty seconds later, I came to follow my own. I mean, if anyone else did that, I'd be losing my mind. You're not disciplined. I'm like, I'm not disciplined.
- [02:29]
Podcast Host
Well, it was a smart move. Fun game. Overall, this is a great time for Nebraska, right? You're unbeaten, volleyball unbeaten. Bud Crawford, unbeaten.
- [02:46]
Matt Rule
It's a great time to be a Husker. In fact, sock, women's sock. We have not lost anything this fall yet. Oh, man, I shouldn't even say the word yet. We are unbeaten so far this fall in every sport at the University of Nebraska. And you hit the nail on the head, though. I mean, you know, Terence, Bud Crawford goes out there, people are, you know, he's an underdog. He's an underdog. But as he. As he said, you know, he's been an underdog his whole life. That's his words, not mine. And he goes out there with the Nebraska N on his mouthpiece on Netflix and proves he's the best fighter of his era. I'd say, you know, should I say of all time. But he said, hey, we don't. Don't compare eras in his press conference. And here's what I love about Bud. You see how respectful he was. He brought Canelo's belts back after all that. He respected Canelo. They're two first ballot hall of Famers. But what a time. I mean, I went and saw him after the fight. Everyone around them was wearing Nebraska. The only person not wearing Nebraska end was me. I was like, let's go. What? It's a great time to be a Husker, man. To be a Corn Husker.
- [03:42]
Podcast Host
He. He's amazing, man. I just. I love his story. What was it like to tell? Take us through the day, man. Like, that's so cool. And it was. It was boxing. There's nothing like. I covered it, right? For Tyson and Holyfield, all these guys. There's nothing like it. When you. It's big fight night, so.
- [04:03]
Matt Rule
So I went to the Super Bowl. When Tom Brady came back against the Falcons, I was the new head coach of Baylor. I went to game six and game seven of the 86 World Series. I was there when the ball went through Buckner's legs. It's a true story. I never knew that I was there. Calvin Shiraldi is a true story. Now, like, I've had some amazing moments. This was the greatest sporting event I've ever been to. And for a guy with ADD like me, it's like 45 minutes. The closest thing to that. I went to the Savannah, Savannah Bananas this summer. They put the clock at 2.2hours, and they counted down. I was like, they figured me out. I can't watch something for four hours unless it's maybe golf. So I, bro, I loved it. I loved. I loved the experience. Starts and ends with Bud, the performance that he put on. But, yeah, we finished the game, came upstairs. I run upstairs. My wife's getting changed. It's her birthday. She. She had a landmark birthday. I'm not gonna say the end. She had her. Let's just say she had her 21st birthday. Okay? And so we're going out there with our athletic director, Troy.
- [05:08]
Podcast Host
Happy birthday, Julie.
- [05:10]
Matt Rule
Thank you for that. Yeah, Happy birthday, honey.
- [05:12]
Will Compton
Cuz said it first.
- [05:13]
Matt Rule
Oh, no. But, but. So we went out there and came upstairs and getting changed, and I got Corey, our strength coach. I got Wes. And I'm trying, like, how's this look? How's that look? He's like, stop it. So I told him it cost me a bunch of money because he put. Took off his chain. I wear my chain. He liked my chain. He took off his chain. He put it on me. And I got so many compliments that night that Julie texted me yesterday. She's like, you know, we should get matching chains. I'm like, oh, Corey just cost me a bunch of money, bro.
- [05:39]
Will Compton
So.
- [05:40]
Matt Rule
But no. So we got changed, we flew out there, went to. Had an amazing dinner, a place called Bavettes at the mgm. Went over first class service. I mean, like, just people taking care of you. Like, went over, supported the guy, support the guys in the undercard. And then, man, we went up and, and, and, and, and went to the fight and then went down to the ring. I'm staying. I'm standing on the ring, talking to his manager. After the fight, Canelo is 10ft away from me giving, like, his, you know, respectful consolation. Talked to his fans, because his fans, the guy next to me bet 20 grand on Canelo. So as I'm cheering for blood, I kept. I was like. I was like, hey, bro, it's okay. Hey, relax. You're good for it. Like, I hope, I hope he's doing well. The woman behind me. I gave. I gave. There was two women behind me. I gave them my number, which. Which is not what you think my wife is like. They were the best fans I've ever heard in my life. They were from South Jersey, okay? They were screaming for Bud the entire fight. I said, I need you to come to Lincoln next week, okay? I need you at the game. I haven't heard from the. Hopefully. Hopefully they text me at some point. But no, just. Just. Just amazing atmosphere. And two, because you had two great fighters. You had two great sets of fans that, that love this hall of Fame fight. And. But. But, you know, after the fight, we go back, we go up on. We go up to the ring, and then we go back to see Bud. He's in a golf cart and he's getting ready to be whisked away, right? And I walk. I see him. He looks at me like this, like, oh. I started walking up to him. The security guard hit me in the chest so hard, like, shoved me out of the way. And Bud was like, no, no, no, that's coach. It's coach. Come on, Coach. I was like. And you know, you can't look soft. My man just went 12 rounds. I was like, hey, what's up? But it was awesome. And then we hung out for a while, and then, well, we flew back, landed five o' clock in the morning. My Uber was. I called my Uber at 5:15, come back to work. And my wife was like, stop it. At least go home and shower. I go home, I just sit down, fall asleep for like two hours. About 7:15, little Leona comes in. Dad, let's go have breakfast and go to work. So we took her to breakfast, went to work. It was a bucket list. Bucket list day.
- [07:40]
Podcast Host
Oh, that's fabulous. And here you are. 7:15, breakfast with your beautiful daughter. And then break it down. Michigan film.
- [07:50]
Matt Rule
That's exactly right. Watch. Watch the tape first. Then, you know, I got cool. I got cool players. Like, I asked the players, it was okay if I go. I said, hey, guys, listen, I have this chance to go. They were all like, can I hop on the plane with you?
- [08:02]
Sherman Young
But.
- [08:03]
Matt Rule
But, you know, I said, hey, I don't want to be a distraction, you know, like. And they were like, I'm a Sierra, right? Our starting corner. Great. He's like, wait, you're going to miss the game. And they were like, no, he's going to go after the game. He's like, well, why are you asking me about what you want to do after the Game, bro. Like, do whatever you want, coach. I'll see you Sunday. But, you know, I don't want to. It's not about me, but to me, it's about the state of Nebraska. And like you said, like, Bud Crawford, when I needed him, when I called him last year and said, hey, will you come lead us out of the tunnel for Colorado, he was there. So when he said, hey, will you come to my sendoff? Me and the players were there. And then when I had a chance to go to this, I already knew it was not a matter of if. It was when. When he won that fight, I wanted to make sure we were there representing. Representing Nebraska and representing him.
- [08:42]
Podcast Host
That's beautiful. I. He saw what a story, what a guy and the air of confidence to do. To be the first guy, right. Like, to win a title and that many divisions is ridiculous in that. In that sport. And to have the. The air of confidence. He was an underdog, and he didn't believe it. He knew he was going to win, and he won, and he won handle. I thought he won closer than the score.
- [09:10]
Matt Rule
Well, it's funny, like, in the 12th, I was like, bud, you're winning.
- [09:14]
Podcast Host
Stop.
- [09:15]
Matt Rule
He's like. He's like going hard to the body. I was like. And I don't. It's like. It's like people yelling at me, what to call. Like, all right, I didn't know. I don't know what I'm talking about. But I knew he had won that fight. But I think it was a fifth round, maybe. He took. He took a stiff punch to the face. He smiled, and I was like, it's over. You knew what it was. But, man, this is the same guy who got shot and shot in the head and drove himself to the hospital. He's just different. Different DNA.
- [09:43]
Podcast Host
Yeah.
- [09:43]
Matt Rule
We call it Husker. He's got Husker DNA. And, and, you know, the Huskers are his team. I'm just. I just came along like, he's been. He's been. He's a day one, you know, a Nebraska corn Husker. So I'm. I'm honored to be in any way associated with him.
- [09:57]
Podcast Host
I love it. It's just such a. Such a great story. And, you know, the. The whole. I. I'm loving the. Everything about Nebraska right now is. Just feels good. So let's keep that going, all right? We like to go cover big stories across college football. The Sean Foster coach out at UCLA.
- [10:22]
Matt Rule
Yeah, I'm sad about that. You know, DeSean was a player at UCLA when I was a. When I was a young graduate assistant and, you know, stayed in touch with him over the years, you know, here and there. So happy for him when he got that job. You know, Martin Jarman, the AD there's good friend of mine, you know, I was a GA at ucla, as I said, and I finished my master's degree. I finished it at Buffalo. But I love, love UCLA and I love Westwood, and I mean just. I mean, just an amazing place. And so, you know, it's a place I want to see be successful. Now they beat us last year, and it was a devastating loss for us. In some ways, it was an impetus, you know, maybe for, you know, me just taking a step as a head coach, like, hey, I need to pick this up. But I was happy for him. I remember texting him after the game, like, hey, you know what? Like, I'm not going to let it happen again. But proud of you for what you did. I mean, he got his team ready to play and so just disappointed, you know, like, that he only got, you know, a year and three games. You know, in this new era, like, to me, you can make. We can make emotional impulse decisions like, hey, this is not working for the fans, but, like, is, do we have all the things we need to be successful? Is our money, right, Our nil, right our roster, right, all those different things. I just know he's a good man. I know he's a good family man. So obviously where I'm at, I hate that. You know, it's one thing when you've had enough time and, you know, hey, I've exhausted. It just, it hasn't worked out, but it's just such a short amount of time. I am glad it's not, you know, it's their bye week. I know. I'm glad it's not the second buy because they have a buy before they play us. There's nothing worse than, you know, you get the new interim head coach and they got all that juice of, like, hey, we got to win it for so and so. So, yeah, but we'll play them later in the year. But, you know, UCLA is a great program. They have great players. I know these decisions are tough. I'm not criticizing Marty. Like I said, he's a good friend of mine. I just wish. I wish desean got more time, and I wish it would have worked out for him differently because I know how much he loves the place. But, you know, I've been on both sides of this thing, you know what I mean? So I know exactly how he and his family feel. So I hate it for him.
- [12:14]
Podcast Host
Well, this is year three for you. In case you didn't know that. That rule year three is everywhere.
- [12:28]
Will Compton
Are you tired of hearing it?
- [12:29]
Podcast Host
Because, listen, I know I'm guilty. I brought it up on our show a million times. But I was wondering, like, is Matt tired of hearing Matt rule year three?
- [12:39]
Matt Rule
Well, here's the deal. I don't want it to be that they stop saying year three because we stink, right? Like, oh, so much for year three. So I don't want to get rid of it that way. I would like. I would like, you know, I mean, because again, this isn't about me, right? It's about our guys. Our guys are the ones out there playing. So I'm hoping now, you know, it's a whole different animal now, right? Non conference is over. We're starting the big Ten. Oh, by the way, let's start with a ranked opponent, national tv. Let's start. Let's start it that way. But what, you know, what an opportunity for our guys. And so, yeah, the year three thing, like, to me, I can't wait for year three. But year four, year five, year six, like, this is a place so you go back to the Bud Crawford thing. Like, I've been waiting my whole life. And I love, you know, how much I love Temple. I love Baylor, you know, made great friends when I was in Charlotte. But, like, this is a place, like, you can do things here that, that. That you can't do anywhere else. And so this is a place I want to have year 10, you know, year 11. And so I'm excited to get past the whole year three thing. But hopefully we win enough that they say, hey, the year three thing is real. So we're going to go battle and try. I don't want to be like, whatever happened to year three? No, that's not. That's not happening. We can't let that happen.
- [13:43]
Podcast Host
Well, I know how much you love it because it's a place where you can take your shoes off and have your feet in the grass during practice.
- [13:54]
Matt Rule
I. I go out every morning after I finish my work and I take my shoes off, I walk around the ground. I would never do it during practice. That would be maybe right before I do it. Right before practice. I'm one of those guys like my Instagram algorithm and like, hey, this exercise thing, this brain thing, and my. My sports science guy, Mitch, I send him 200 things and like, 197, he's like, no, just go to Sleep. No, Just go to sleep earlier. No. Eat healthier. No. Stop. Stop. But he's like, hey, this is real. Like, take your shoes off. Walk. Walk on the earth. Let your feet feel the earth. Get the. Get the good stuff in there, get the bad stuff out, and then look at the sun. So I'm like, you know what? I'm not the healthiest guy, but I'm gonna try this.
- [14:31]
Podcast Host
Grounding our NFL topic today, because the big story yesterday was the tush push. And, man, people just hate it, right? Like, they just hate it. And the Eagles go, well, what do.
- [14:48]
Matt Rule
You want from us?
- [14:49]
Podcast Host
Buffalo's tried it. They didn't. Were successful. Right. Everybody could try it. We just happen to run this thing better. Yesterday they run it seven times against the Chiefs. And everybody from Adam Schefter to all the rules analysts, like, everybody's like, I'm tired of this push.
- [15:07]
Matt Rule
When that went for vote this summer, I would have taken every cent that I have and taken it to Vegas and said, they're going to outlaw it, but they need the votes. You know, they kept talking about all the. In the injury data. Injury data. But if you actually look, there's no injuries, so there could be injuries, but there is. There is no injury data. So I was like, oh, this is a clear. Like, they're. This is. They want this out of the game. Right? They don't want, you know, the sponsors. They don't turn. You don't turn the game on to watch people run a quarterback sneak. They want it out. It's funny. Like, you know, so Cam Juergens is the center. He's a Husker.
- [15:39]
Podcast Host
Yeah.
- [15:40]
Matt Rule
This summer he's here. You know, he had. He won the Super Bowl. He's had surgery. He rehabs at our place. That's how nice our facilities are. And I'm sitting there, I'm like, bro, explain this to me now. And even he's just like, that's kind of what we do now. They. They do have one of, if not the. And I'm partial. I think he is the best offensive line coach in football. And Jeff Stouton.
- [15:57]
Will Compton
Yeah, right.
- [15:58]
Matt Rule
Descendant of George De Leon, who was my mentor. We have the same mentor, Stout. I mean, just. Just. Guy makes great players, makes great offensive lines, and they do it better than any anybody else. And so to me, like, the mark of being a great team is when they start trying to outlaw what you do. And you're exactly right. We've tried it. We can't do it the way they can do it. They are elite at it. And everyone's saying, like, wow, there's so many flags and they're offsides. Well, then throw a fight for them being offsides. Like, if the center's heads past the ball, if that's a. Is that a penalty? If that's a penalty, throw the flag, and all of a sudden fourth and one will become fourth and six. That. But, like, let's not have a PR campaign against it. Like. Like, stop it. Stop the play. And so I. I think. I think it has a great. I think it has a great. Has a name. How can you get rid of a play with a name?
- [16:45]
Podcast Host
Exactly.
- [16:45]
Matt Rule
I mean, it's got a name. It needs to stay in the game.
- [16:48]
Podcast Host
What do you like better, Tush Push or brotherly Shove?
- [16:53]
Matt Rule
I think Tush Push is Brotherly shove. Makes sense with Philly, but I think. I think Tush push is elite. And you know what? You know, who doesn't get enough credit on it, though? I think Jalen hurts. Doesn't get enough. And you saw at the end, Chris Jones, one of my favorite players in the National Football League, and Jalen. I played against Jalen at Baylor when he was in Oklahoma. Played against him, I think, my second year in the National Football League when he was. When he was at the Eagles. Like, I just think people fight for him and play for him, and I think he's one of the ultimate competitors. You see him at the end of the game, him and Chris Jones, you know, they're both talking trash to each other. And that's true. That's just two warriors. It's like. It's like Canelo and Crawford. Just two warriors. But I think he doesn't get enough credit for, like, he does make that play go. Like, I mean, the O line makes the play go, but he does get in behind there and drives 600 pounds. Exactly right. Exactly right. So people like this outlaw him, then. Oh, you can't outlaw him. Oh, it's outlaw the play. No, it's got a name. It stays done.
- [17:48]
Podcast Host
I like it. I like it. All right, coming up, Anything but football. And this is where we hit you with a question, this time from the audience.
- [18:01]
Matt Rule
All right, so you know what? If you don't mind, the interview's been great, but I'm going to take a quick break. Thanks, bro. Thanks, bro. I don't know if you guys used. Eat chomps. Use chomps. I got put on a chomps not too long ago by actually the dietitian who's kind of helped me as I've lost these 40 or 50 pounds. And they're elite. I have them everywhere. I have them at home, I have them here in the office. I have them down in my locker. And here's why. Every, every, every stick has at least 10 grams of protein. The turkey ones here, they have 12 and no sugar. I mean, a lot of times you eat these things or sugar everywhere. But I love them. So I would just tell you guys, this is not some sales thing. This is, this is something that has helped me a ton. I hope it can help you. If you're interested in. If Interested, go to chomps.com rules15 or use code code rules15 to get 15 off your Chomps order and free shipping. That's rules 15 for 15 off chops and free shipping. This one's mine. Get your own. It's not very often that the student becomes the teacher, but that's like, that's how this moment feels right now. Here I am, this, you know, up and coming, like, struggling podcaster, just trying to make it, and one of the guys that I look up to more than anyone in terms of elite content, the ability to interview, and just an all around amazing guy I have a chance to talk to today. So it is my great honor to have on House Rules. Will Compton. What's up, my brother?
- [19:35]
Will Compton
Dude, I'm so fired up. I got the shirt, I got the. If we die, we die. We got a big one this weekend with the bus and bull. I'm juiced. I love that you're doing the podcast yet. A lot of external noise when it first dropped, but I, I loved it. We, we had communicated before you started it and I, Dude, I, I just respect a lot of the stuff that you do. I like, I, you know, Coach Eckler's there. You got a sports psychologist of mine that I used to work with, Ben Newman. He works with you guys some. And so there's a lot of ties there. But all the things I hear, dude, I'm just, I'm fired up to be here. I'm fired up to be on House Rules. This one feels like it should be in person because we could probably talk for three hours.
- [20:13]
Matt Rule
That's right.
- [20:14]
Will Compton
I already got the vein coming out of my neck.
- [20:17]
Matt Rule
Well, I think it's important to say that, like, when I was thinking about doing this, I, I called you and I said, like, hey, what do you think? Like, you know, because, you know, there's an optics thing into this. Like, you know, oh, shouldn't he, you know, you lose one game, they'll be all be like, well, shouldn't he just be coaching football? But I know, you know, this is the world that I'm in now. Like, I got. I have more parents of recruits. We had a kid commit to us last week and the mom said, I watch everything you do. I want my son to play for you. And it's like, that's the world we live in now.
- [20:44]
Will Compton
Yeah, a thousand percent, man. And people love that behind the scenes look. Like, again, even as an athlete, like, we took our licks. Like, our first year. Taylor's ped came out in the summer. Our first year of doing the podcast or the Titans started off two and four. And every week it's like I'm sitting there. This is when I was a free agent, so I'm watching on the couch. But every time they would lose, I'm just like, oh, God, here we go with the focus on the podcast. This, that, the other. It's just you now, you know, looking back on it, it's like you just had to sit in the pocket because again, it's like it's just going to keep going. It's just going to keep ascending. People love to hear the behind the scenes stuff that you show. Really your content team across the board in Nebraska, I think Nebraska, you know, everybody knows I'm biased, but we have one of the best content teams in the game.
- [21:29]
Matt Rule
And, you know, it's funny you say that. This summer I was at an event and we were in Palm Springs. I was talking to the son of a big donor of ours and he had his girlfriend there and she was like, she's like, she said to me, she said, I feel like I know you. And I was like, because. And she's like, my boyfriend makes me watch everything that you guys do, all the content. She goes, I don't even like football. And I was telling her some of these things we were thinking about and she said, coach, just remember this. I'll never watch football, but I'll watch documentaries and shows about a football team. She's like, you have to keep doing this. And so I'm not like, when I first got here, I was like, put the cameras away. Like, I'm old school. You're like, get that stuff away from me. And. But what I realized is recruiting now, this is the new, like, Oregon. When I was in college, Oregon was. I mean, who talked about Oregon and what they did with how they rebranded themselves? And they were so elite with their uniforms and with their swagger. Every kid now that I recruit has grown up as Oregon is the coolest thing. Credit to my boy Dan Lanning. They've done a. But it's going back to Chip Kelly, right? Bellotti. This is our chance, I think, our content team, what we do at Nebraska and Nebraska football, the stuff we all put out, it's our chance to make ourselves the brand that everyone else wants to be.
- [22:42]
Will Compton
Yeah. And again, it's like, even the move with tuning in on the McAfee show every week, it's just. It's creating awareness because there's just different games that go on. It's like, football's the main thing. The priority's always going to be the main thing. But it's like, you know as well as anybody being in a position of leadership, being in a position of, like, optimism, operating, kind of managing people, operating a business, it's like, if you have the capacity for it, then why not do it if you have the time? If there's times or pockets in the day where this stuff is happening anyway, why not give an inside look? Give a real authentic look? Because people. Authenticity wins over everything else, and I think that's what people appreciate.
- [23:20]
Matt Rule
You know, it's funny, on House Rules here, we. We do a segment every day with one of our players. We did Becca, Alec last week, our amazing volleyball player. But we do it with our players. And then the whole deal was like, hey, we've got them a little nil money. You know, every kid has been like, coach, I don't want that. Now, I'm sure they'll take it, but, like, it's just they. They want to be. They want to be part of it. They want to be heard, they want to be seen. And so whether we're doing, like, a walk and talk with the guys after practice for on the Huskers or whether we're doing something on House Rules, our guys, they've grown up in a culture of content. They feel appreciated, seen and heard when they're a part of it. You know, when I got fired at Carolina, like, all the media, people kept asking, hey, you want to make a comment? Some even, like, threatened me, like, if you don't do it, we're going to do this. I mean, legitimately threatened me. That's for another time, but it was like, hey, I didn't want to do that. I didn't want to, like, take shots at people. I didn't want to, like, go. And I also, like, I was thinking about my next job. I didn't want to get sued. Because there's things in your contract, you can't say anything bad So I never said anything. Right. The first chance I got to talk about getting fired was when I went on the bus. I didn't really know you yet, but I was down in Nashville recruiting Demetrius Bell. You let me come on. And so many people have told me, like, you know, when I sat there and you were like, hey. I said, no, I got my ass fired. And it was almost like I made light of it. And all these people who thought, you know, whatever they thought, it kind of made. It made the situation way different for them, and it endeared me a little bit to them. First of all, I appreciate that, but isn't that kind of what you guys can do? You guys can paint a picture for? Like, I watched what you did with the Dominican sue last, and he was talking about getting circled. I showed it to our guys. Like, this is it. Like, you guys bring people to life so that people get to see who they really are.
- [25:01]
Will Compton
Yeah. Again, it's like, it's the authenticity of the locker room. Like, people. People love to see these people humanized and talk through certain things. We had the Miz on his episode dropped this week, and a part came up where he talked about sue, and he's like, I thought that dude was an asshole. I actually listened to the conversation, and it was an incredible perspective that I had about Indomicant Suit, because again, it's like, you know, he braced, he embraced the villain role in the NFL, but nobody's really had those conversations with him about everything football related. Or, hey, whenever you stepped on Aaron Rodgers or, hey, when you were a dominant force, what's it look like to you on the outside when people are saying X, Y and Z. Because a lot of times in football. The biggest reason we started the podcast is football is the ultimate team sport. You're out there and you're representing the name on the front. You never, never want to go or make it a name. Make it about the name on your back. And there would be these conversations that you have around the facility that you're aware of, whether it's in the sauna, the steam room, the cold tub, before practice, after practice, the bantering, going around to where you can bring out. We wanted to bring out what the locker room looked like to everybody, because a lot of the times when you're getting a microphone in your face, you're in the locker room, it's probably after a tough loss. Everybody's assholes is tight, so you're not going to get a whole lot of sound bites from a player. But when you step on the bus and come on our show. I feel like that's kind of like where our pocket is. We get to kind of sit in there and bring the authenticity out, bring the humanizing factor out of anybody who sits on the bus.
- [26:28]
Matt Rule
I love that. Is there is river an episode you do and all of a sudden your wife or gets. Why'd you say this? Why'd you say that? Do you ever get in trouble for anything you've done or sit on the bus?
- [26:40]
Will Compton
Not like the amount we've done like 3 re over 350 podcasts. I'm sure there's been a couple. You know, when we went and we interviewed Donald Trump, like, that was one. It's like my wife runs a couple bars. Bar. She owns Bar 3 Studios here in. In Nashville. To where, you know, you have those conversations because there's going to be so many other people that's going to comment about it, like through her. So it's putting. It's also putting a little bit of a burden on her that I'm going to do X, Y and Z. So that was probably the one where you're. We're like having a conversation and talking through everything because the political world is just a insanely different beast.
- [27:18]
Matt Rule
Yeah.
- [27:19]
Will Compton
And then she might check me on if I'm getting a little too detailed in her stories. Like, you got the. We got the. For the dad's pot, where we talk about being a husband, being a dad and all those things. So I know she tunes into that each and every week just to like, what's Will saying on here? There's been a couple times I've posted some. Some photos that might, you know, show the house a little too much to where it's like, hey, you got to keep that in check.
- [27:41]
Matt Rule
You remember when you came. You came to Lincoln and you did your vlog. We did the live show. And then you guys came back to the. You guys came back to the house. And Julie was like, hey, just. You guys can film in the house. I do not want. I do not want to be filmed. Like, most. A lot of wives want to be filmed. My wife's like, do not have me filmed. So we watched the whole thing. It was 50 minutes. And there's one clip of her, and she's like, call Will right now. Call him right now. I was like, I'm calling right now. But I think the biggest thing that we've loved about but you, Taylor, but it's. It's your whole team. Like, when you guys come around, like, even, like, we Go over to the Rococo. We're hanging out in the green room with you guys. Like my wife can be there. Like those are. You don't associate with any bad guys. Like the spring game, everybody was, all your people are good people. Is that, is that like one of your key, key things is like, hey, surround myself with elite people or is it just luck? Or how do you, how do you build your team?
- [28:32]
Will Compton
I think you get to know like the whole managing game and leadership game, like operating like having a business. That's been a very big learning curve for myself just because not everybody who comes in is going to be used to what I've been used to in my life, which is it's a performance based business every day to where, hey, film's out there. Let's watch film. Will your step here, you know, coaches in there talking to you critically when you're sitting in the AC and the whole film isn't coming to life because it might be a hot day in training camp and you're just getting your ass shunned because you're getting a lot of critical coaching, a lot of tough coaching. That's been something that, not that I've been that way, but I've had to really like. Reading books has been super helpful for myself, like on leadership and small business owners and everything else, on how to manage people, how to lead people, how to have one on one conversations. But you know, fortunately, looking back, definitely lucky with some guys, but you've kind of formulated this culture to where we have a lot of high character guys. Like, we have a lot of really good dudes that come from good backgrounds that are just willing to work. They have the competence, they have the just the mindset of wanting to grow in their career. Whether they want to be. If they're thinking they're with us for their entire lives or they're looking at it as a stepping stone. But we've gotten really lucky and we have an incredible culture and a lot of the times too. Like, the reason they feel so comfortable and they love going back to Nebraska is, bro, the people in Nebraska. There's always just like a giddiness grin like on my face when we get to travel to Nebraska and somebody new gets to come to Nebraska. Because I know how that this place has embraced myself, how this place is just boots on the ground, there's red everywhere because it's the only show in town. And I'm always like, it's like a college student that's going back home for the first time. There's just like giddiness in their gut. Because I'm like, I can't wait till you meet these people because they're gonna make you feel at home. And hats off to the staff. Hats off to everybody in Lincoln. And because when we get there, it's truly like, hey, it's like you're in your own house with these guys. They treat those guys that way. And in return, they absolutely love the big red from it.
- [30:33]
Matt Rule
Wow. I love that. We loved having you guys. Can't wait to have you this week. So, so let's, let's, let's talk about.
- [30:40]
Will Compton
Talking about this week.
- [30:41]
Matt Rule
Not yet. Not yet. We're going to get. We're going to work our way to this week because once we start talking about this week, the vein's going to pop out my neck. Yeah, let's talk about, let's talk about a guy. I don't, you know I'm talking to you, but I never met this guy. You see how we can. You see this guy?
- [30:57]
Will Compton
Yeah.
- [30:57]
Matt Rule
Like, like, did he. Did you. At that point, did you ever note the things that you were gonna do in the National Football League and then what you've now built with busin and then for the dads, like, what you built. Like, did you have an idea that you were going to do these things?
- [31:14]
Will Compton
Well, absolutely not. Didn't have an idea that I would do the things and accomplish the things that I have now. Like, there's Coach Bo Pelini was a very instrumental part of my career as a football player, in my life as a human being. There's always a quote that was everywhere around our facility that was focused on the process, compete every day. Bo, when he has veins coming out of his neck, he talked about, you're not a some of the time guy. You're an all the time guy. We were big on, hey, if you miss class, guys as assholes were top height in team meetings. We had a gpa, I think, like, averaged around. I forget what it is. I don't want to talk out of the side of my mouth. I want to say maybe around two and a half, three, like 3.0. Bo is somebody that's like, I'm not, I'm not here to babysit. Like, you don't show up on Saturday and the other days of the week don't matter. You don't show up to practice every day and you figure out ways to skip class or do other things. Bo had this insane ability to instill the process in you. And as far as learning football, I feel like the way he thought philosophy wise, defensively set me up for my career in the NFL by far, bar none as far as offensive tendencies. Formation shifts the pressure to communicate with the entire front, with the entire front four, the back, you know, when you're in the back seven. But Bo was just a very instrumental part in my entire journey to where there's a lot of foundational core principles that I hang on to in everything that I've done. Because, you know, Nebraska is a very hard place to play. Feel like Bo is incredible as he was as a football coach. His Achilles heel was being that emotional cat to where sometimes it seemed like it was the team verse the fans because there would be so much chatter and he knew how it would affect the players. But that guy right there that you're looking at, man, this is Bo Pelini, James Dobson. I've had a lot of very good teachers. Coach Eckler was my, he was my recruiter, he was my linebackers coach. He. He took me under his arm, helped me through a lot of tough times. Whether it's through surgery or other things going on on the field. I've been surrounded by a lot of great people, man. And it was, I tell you what, it's the philosophies of Nebraska is why I had a nine year career in the NFL. Because making in the NFL is, is damn hard for, for an undrafted guy.
- [33:32]
Matt Rule
Yeah, I found out it's very hard to make it in the nfi. You know, it's so interesting for me. I've never met Bo. I talked to Bo on the phone, you know, early on and then we around it. There was a team Jack banquet that I went to and I talked to him there. I talked to him on the phone before that. But you know, you see the intensity. You see like the, you know, just, just the outward appearance of it all. But when I talk to guys who played for him, I don't know that I've ever, I've ever heard players talk more loyal about a coach than I've ever. Than I've heard them talk about. Whether it's you, whether it's Prince, whether it's, you know, all the different guys, like I've been around, like the guys. You guys would take a bullet for the man. Like you guys love him and like as a coach, that's not always the case. Was it just the passion? What was it that made you guys so loyal to him?
- [34:24]
Will Compton
You knew he cared about you, you knew he cared about his team, he cared about his players. You'd have Individual conversations with him to where he's getting to know you on a personal level. And the guy like, you see it highlights, clips, everything else. He wears emotions on his sleeve. He felt like if Nebraska was wronged in a situation or a call, he's out there with the refs. He's got a lot of good memes, a lot of good videos out there to where you can find those things. But you just knew you had a coach that had your back no matter what. I know I've been very blessed to have the platform that I have now with being such a Nebraska fan and being such a guy who's always trying to carry the flag and wave the flag. Fan wave the flag, like for Nebraska. And I just remember, like, when ex players would come back and talk to us or there would be ex players around the building, and then when the noise gets loud and things are going wrong a little bit, we. We lost some games we shouldn't have lost. And when I would hear some of these ex people, these ex players who was around our culture and around our building, but they're out in the media saying other things or opposite things, like, it's human nature to look at whatever's being said, whatever's going on. Especially as a young athlete, I was somebody that listened to the stuff that was said. And I just remember thinking, like, if, you know, when I'm done being a player, I'm always going to be a guy that Rooster Nebraska. No matter how bad it seems, because it gets really loud when it's bad. And I know the players, knowing myself, knowing my teammates, we were guys that listened to, heard some of the stuff that was said. And I just. I remember how I felt as a player. So I don't know how many guys on the team might listen to things I say at all times, but I'm just thinking, if players come across. Whatever I'm saying about Nebraska, I always want a positive spin on it, that we're still in the fight. Because you always are. No matter what point of the season you are. You could be four losses in a row. There's still something there to know. No matter what, you got to show up the next day. I'm going to be a guy that's always, you know, pushing that boat forward in a time where in Nebraska it can get extremely negative and. And some fans are looking for that optimism to hang on to because it's been dark for Nebraska football for a long time. So I knew that if I was ever the position I'm in now, I'm super grateful for, because I feel this responsibility to continue to push the boat forward because I feel like that's the way it's starting to trend, and it's just like we've had to sit in a deep, a dark pocket for a while, and I feel like a lot of that started because you saw coach care so much about having our back, that would go out there and argue, would do, say any of the things he needed to say to have our back. I knew how I felt as a player when this stuff was loud and negative and be said, so I feel like it was kind of like that combination. You just knew the guy would die for you, and so it felt that way as a player for him. Like, I would take a bullet for this man.
- [37:05]
Matt Rule
That's. That's where. If we die. You said, if we die, we die, buddy.
- [37:10]
Will Compton
If we die, we die speech. Like, you know, I forget where I was, but I'm on my feet when I'm seeing that. Just juice to the gills.
- [37:18]
Matt Rule
You know, it's. It's.
- [37:19]
Will Compton
It's.
- [37:19]
Matt Rule
It's. It's funny because, you know, you need content. You need people to have opinions, to have it matter. I have said to a couple people in my time, I've said, you know, it's really hard for a young player who grows up looking up to. He wants to be in the Penn Stater, Nebraska, and you're a Nebraska fan, and then the players that you cheered for, when you feel like they're taking shots at you as a player, it's. It can be so demoralizing when your heroes are saying, hey, you're not at our level. And I think, you know, I think that's. That's one of the hard things, you know, in just modern, modern content, modern college football is like, you know, how do you. How do you do that? That's why I've always appreciated, like, I remember apologizing. You came to Michigan two years ago. I was like, bro, I'm sorry. Um, you know, it's like. But at the same time, like, sometimes you have to go through some things in order to get to where you want to go to. And it's like being negative. Being negative and being doomsday has never gotten anyone anywhere, you know, so it's like, all right, well, this happened. What's next? Let's. Let's attack the next thing. Like when we lost to Michigan two years ago, like, we went out on the field and practiced next day in full pads with a Friday game. I was like, play on Saturday or Play on Sunday. And you know what? Those players that did that, they will. We almost put that video out, and I was like, no, I don't put the video out, because it's. It's pretty intense. We put that video out, someday it's gonna be like. It'll be like one of those hidden tapes. But, yeah, it's. It's. It's. Those players will always have that memory of that. They'll always be able to say they'll come back in 20 years. Remember the time we practiced on a Sunday with a Friday game and tackled each other for two hours? But, like, that's better than just being negative and complaining. And so I've always. We. I know the players here. We all appreciate the way you, you know, you speak highly about us because you have high expectations. So do we. Now. We got to just, you know, go. Gotta go. Back it up, bro.
- [39:03]
Will Compton
Gotta go do it. It's like the biggest. A couple, you know, principles that were kind of locked in my. A couple quotes that would be locked in my head, like, as a player throughout my career is, nobody's coming to save you, and nobody cares. Work harder. Like, no matter how loud the noise is, nobody gives a shit, man. Nobody cares if you play into it. And I know as a player, you can. I've been an example of that myself. To where you might hear something offhand. To where, yeah, it doesn't affect you. It doesn't bother you. You can play all the games you want, but it. It. It plants this little seed of doubt. To where. Whether you understand that it's happening or not. To where, man, can I make this play? Can I go do that? There'd be times where I'm watching my old high school film just to get some confidence, back of thinking. Like, man, I've always felt like I'm moving this way, I'm playing that way. And the noise can suffocate you, bro. That's why, like, again, it's. It's. For me, it's always like, pushing the boat forward. Athletes listen to us, you know, and just all that different juice. Because as a player, like, a lot of these things, like, took over my mind at times, and it's like, how do you get out of it? And a lot of those quotes of, nobody's coming to save you, nobody cares. Work harder is like a foundational thing. Is like, the sun is going to rise tomorrow. You can either continue to sulk in your sorrows and find any excuse for this next game not to happen, or you put your feet on the ground, you put your head down and you just get back to work as. As good as you can, you know.
- [40:25]
Matt Rule
You know who's. Who's been foundational in that for me, is listening to the videos that Deion Sanders puts out, and people might not. I mean, I respect the heck out of him and the way what he talks about. And I've heard him say, like, hey, you want all this stuff? You want the car, you want this, you want the watch, all that? Then you're going to have to deal with the noise, and the noise doesn't go away. And this pressure, pressure that you're feeling, like, this is what it is. And if you're a Sanders, like, either you win or you hear it. And so I felt like when I early on here, I was, like, trying to, like, protect the guys, and what I realized is, like, it's. I mean, it's right here 24 7. So now I'm like, I literally. I'm stealing it from you. I basically said to them last week, like, guys, this pressure is not going away. Just deal with it. Like, you're gonna have to deal with it. And if you don't like it, win. Play better. Play better, play better. You know, my mom, sometimes I love my mom. My mom reads everything, and she'll say something negative will be out there, and she'll say, well, I read it, but I don't listen to it. And I'm like, ma, it's toxic. It's poison. This is a game. This is a game of confidence. If you're confident, you play well, and the minute you start hearing that stuff, you're not. I mean, I just think one of my jobs now is I can't blow smoke. But I've got to affirm, guys, hey, like, trust me, have a process you can believe in. Attack it. But you're right. There is no one coming to save you. You know, one of the things I respect the most about you and Ben has shared the story is you go undrafted to Washington. And he talks about you guys sitting there and you saying you writing down your goals like I am. And I don't want to speak out of term, but I'm a starting linebacker for. For the. At the time was the Redskins. Right, The Washington Redskins. And then.
- [42:03]
Will Compton
Yeah.
- [42:04]
Matt Rule
And then three years later, I was.
- [42:05]
Will Compton
Going to say, no, please. I was going to say, when I'm sitting there working with Ben, and I came across Ben legitimately on Twitter, and, you know, I was big into the sports psychology stuff. Rex Burkhead gave me a Book the way Rex Burkhead carried himself when coach Bo is barking at you. I know for me at times as a player, he was so he would be. You have the coaches who are very hard on their guys, and you feel like, you know, you had this expectation for yourself to where it's like, am I going to make this play in space? Like, man, I hope I don't miss this tackle. I hope I don't miss this. This tackle. And sure enough, what you think you become. And Rex always seemed to carry his. Carry himself in such a way to where one day I remember asking him, like, hey, Rex, is there anything that you've done or read or listened to, to where you've had the confidence, I guess, that you have. And Rex handed me this book called the Mental Edge by Kenneth Baum. And it's this awesome sports psychology book that I would recommend to everybody. Any player who talks to me and asks, Pitt wants to pick my brain, I tell them, hey, re read this book. And so I got into sports psychology through reading the Mental Edge my senior year of college. Fast forward to where, you know, you go undrafted and, you know, Nebraska, my coaches, everybody's, hey, you just got to get into camp. You just got to get into camp. All that matters is you get into camp. The rest will take care of itself. Well, you realize when you get to the NFL team, nobody gives a that you played at the University of Nebraska and came from Bo Pelini's defense. Like I'm thinking in my head, Bo's gonna have this respect. Like people are gonna, this could be a smart kid. No, nobody cares, man. You're an undrafted guy if you work out, hey, we found a diamond in the rough. If not, hey, he is who we thought he was. So you're at the bottom of every depth chart. I was seven out of seven on our linebacker depth chart. I wasn't even getting work with the threes. I would get to rotate in during OTAs. And I remember, you know, as I'm on the Internet, I see Ben Newman, who lived in St. Louis, Missouri, and I just reached out to him, I DM'd him. And so when I came home after OTAs, spent the summer in Missouri, Ben and I every Monday would drive and meet halfway. I lived in Bontera, he was in Clayton. We've meet at this Panera bread or the St. Louis Bread Company in Arnold, Missouri, and he would start doing the sports psychology work with me because I was just fascinated by it. I'm like, you know, I'm thinking of any edge that I can get. I need to just dive into it. And he challenged me to write like an I am statement. And my first one was, I am a starting linebacker in the NFL. And I'm telling Ben, like, you know, know, if Washington doesn't work out, there's going to be 31 other teams out there. And Ben stopped me and he's like, will, if you want to challenge yourself, you have to believe that you are a starting linebacker with the Washington Redskins. So he is forcing me to write, I am a starting linebacker with the Washington Redskins and all these different things. But we started to build out that prize fighter day, what my goals and everything like, kind of looked like. And Ben was a mentor of mine pretty much my entire career. But we were. We were deep in it for those first few years.
- [44:48]
Matt Rule
And so you go from. You go from seventh out of seven on the depth chart, and in your third year, you're a captain.
- [44:56]
Will Compton
Yeah, that's honestly the biggest honor, you know, getting to be a captain in Nebraska. Getting to be a captain in the NFL is probably my biggest honors, like, as a player. My first year in the NFL, I was practice squad the entire time. I had a good preseason my rookie year to where they kept me, you know, I was on the peace squad squad. I got activated the very last game of the year and backed up London Fletcher in his last. In his last game of his entire career. And then the next year when I'm going into camp being, you know, again on the bottom since I was a practice squad guy, you know, this being a NFL head coach, I was not eligible to get out of my rookie year because I didn't get three credited games. So I had to do rookie minicamp again my second year. And I hated it. I was salty about it. That coaches and people are coming up to me, hey, you got to be here these next three, four days while the vets are out. And I got to do rookie minicamp again. But the silver lining and the blessing that came from it, which, again, I was salty in my mind at the time, but the blessing was Washington didn't draft anybody on the inside in the inside linebacker room that year. So we drafted Trent Murphy in the second round. He was an outside guy, and so that was kind of the new shiny toy. But I got to work with one on one, like with the defense, defensive staff, that next. That rookie minicamp because all the vets are gone. I was the only kind of familiar face. You're filling bodies just for the rookie mini camp. You know, this. You got your Draft picks, a couple preferred free agents, and then you're just filling out bodies to do rookie training camp and get through a few days. And so I got to work with Jim Haslet, our defensive coordinator, our new linebacker coach, Kirk Olive Adati and just preparing in OTAs, I remember I would go in six, sit and break down film on our offense, any off time that I had, because I'm thinking in my head, all right, it's going to be day one, install stuff. Day two, day three, they're going to have some outside zone. Day two, what are they going to have off of it? They're going to have a boot off of it. I'm breaking down stuff to where it's like, all right, It's I, it's 21 personnel, it's eye formation. The X is nasty inside the numbers. Hey, alert, play, action, pass. Everything says this is 100% play, action, pass. When the X is inside the numbers. And if he's outside, that's when you're looking for the open side run or power or anything else. So I remember getting to, I was game planning the offense during OTAs and I'm being demonstrative in my communication. When I'm out there at rookie minicamp to where day three of rookie minicamp, the defensive coordinator comes up to me. He's like, hey, Will, you know you can play in this league, right? And I'm thinking, yeah, like, I just need a. I just need an opportunity. And he's like, where are you at on special team step chart? I was like, I'm the threes. Like, I'm not, I'm not on the depth chart with special teams. The next day I walk in, I'm ones across the board, across special teams. And that's when I feel like it kind of catapulted my opportunity because the coaches were able to witness this guy knowing all of his communications. You can trust him. He knows everything going on right now offensively, he's calling certain plays out and that's what helped set me up to make the team in year two. Then in year two, I had five opportunities to start my first game. I played okay. I played toward ko. He was an awesome. He's with the, the Seahawks right now, I think, as the linebackers coach. And he was like, hey, you know, there's guys who are starters in this league and there's guys who are backups. Like, I know what you're capable of. You looked like a backup in this last one, but we're going to continue to get better. I played better against the Titans, starter comes back, I don't play. And then the last, there's a three week stint at the end of the year where in that three week stint, I want to say fantasy point wise, I had led the linebackers and tackles and I had been taking control of these again, communicating very well to where it helped set me up for that, that year three. Because after year two I go in the exit meeting and KO he was transparent with me. He's like, will, listen, we might draft somebody. You know, Perry, Riley and Keenan Robinson, they're going to be the guys going into year three. You're not going to beat them in shoulder pads and helmets because you're not the athlete that they are. But I fully expect you to win this job in year three. And so that kind of set me up for the third year to where I ended up starting 10 games. The fourth year is when I was voted captain in 2016. And it kind of took care of itself, bro. But it was a, it was a grind and something that I look back on fondly because there were a lot of trying times. There were a lot of times where I'm salty and I'm bitter at the world because I on practice squad and I'm not getting the same opportunities as guys ahead of me. A linebacker would get hurt or tear his acl. I think I'm going to get called up from practice squad. They bring in somebody else. Shanahan telling me, we think we got a little secret by keeping, you know, keeping you. We know stuff about you that other teams don't. And to where I was bitter and Newman would fly out and he would check in with me and he's like, how's your mental. How's everything going? And it got to where I was, I'm saying stuff and it sounded like I'm pointing the finger everywhere else other than pointing at myself. And he's asking me, how's your prize fighter day going? How are your, you know, how's your selft talk doing? What are you telling yourself every day towards ultimately good check on myself to hey, yeah, I'm not doing the things that I had set out to do when we first wrote up this road map. So again, it's like I, I've had a lot of good, a lot of good mentors in my life and Ben being another one. And yeah, bro, that's kind of a really crash course breakdown of my career.
- [50:07]
Matt Rule
But I think it's, it's part of it. And you're talking about taking you're talking about, you know, hey, you saying, hey, I need to do these things and having this mentality. But I think sometimes when I'm hearing as a coach, I'm saying to myself, like, man, the power of, the power of showing belief in a player, right? The power of walking up and saying, hey, will, you know, you can play in this league or hey, will, I fully expect you to, I fully expect you to play well and you know, make or earn this job in year three. It's like, I think as I've gotten older, now that I have kids, you know, we'll talk about for the dads here in a minute. Like, as I'm a dad, like the power of being the first believer of telling someone like, hey, I see this in you. Like, and not just the outcome, but like, hey, you got this toughness, you have this, you know, you have this work ethic, you have these things. It's like, that's all I want my kids, I want my kids, I want people around my kids who don't see what they can't do. I want them to see what they can do and push them to go do it. And it reminds me as a coach, like, be careful what you say, man. Like, what you say is going to live with a young man for a long, long time. When I'm around you, you start talking football, whether we're at dinner in Nashville like you, you get passionate when we start talking X's and O's. And there's a coach somewhere there inside there, isn't there?
- [51:17]
Will Compton
There's a coach, buddy. I, I, I, I say it all the time. If I didn't have a mic in front of my face, a whistle would be hanging from my neck. I love it, I like it. I, I love this game so much. It's taught me so much about life, it's taught me so much about adversity. And you're right, you talk about a responsibility that you, a power that you have that whether you identify it or not. Thinking back on myself as a player, like my head coach, my position coach, my coordinators always had this ability to, you know, I'm sitting with my, my wife and I, we do couples therapy and my therapist is sitting there breaking down. They're like, hey, the number, the biggest trait that all athletes have that she works with and comes across is words of affirmation. Like athletes need words of affirmation because we live in such a day to day, performance based world to where, you know, if I'm, if I'm not doing my Things at home, or I'm sitting there telling the therapist the stuff that I feel like I'm doing. And Charl might not be acknowledging it. She's, like, pointing that out. Hey, these are opportunities to help out old Willie C. That he's kind of looking for. And I don't know it at the time, but I sit there and think about how hard my dad was on me. I sit there and think about how hard Coach Boa was on us, how hard, you know, Shanahan, Gruden, Vrabel, any head coach that I've played for. And it's. Honestly, it is that. It's like anytime that I've had a coach tell me, like, whether it's positivity, whatever it is, like, there's a little kid inside you that all you want to hear is that your dad is proud. And when that happens, happens, it juices you up. It's like when the world and the outside noises saying this, that the other. When any of my head coaches would sit there and put it up on the board and say, hey, they're saying this about you, but this is what we know about you. And it's in front of the team, it's in front of the players. To where it's like, there's almost this weight that comes off of your shoulders. To where it's like, we are in this thing together, and it's. You're almost relieved that it's getting addressed and that you're having some personal time with your head ball coach or your position coach, whoever it is, that it kind of, like, it relieves you a little bit, and that is like a power and a responsibility that you carry because that's, that's all it takes. A guy might be struggling, and all they might need is a pat on the back. All they might need is a question, hey, what's going on? Like, what are you hearing out there that's different than what coaches are telling you? Because a lot of coaches will sit up there screaming. Guys, don't listen to the outside noise. You should just listen to what we're saying inside, right? And if it's not addressed or if it's not spoken to, like, it's like it's individualized or, you know, because coaches talk a lot in generalities. But once you feel like it's personal and individualized, that's where I feel like, for me as a player, it always.
- [53:45]
Matt Rule
Hit, you know, I, I, I talked to the staff today, and I, I talked about, you know, we had a kid come running in you know there's a, the non travel guys lift at 6:30. And so I'm in there working out. Little plug for me. I'm in there working out this morning and a kid comes running in.
- [54:00]
Will Compton
You look good by the way.
- [54:00]
Matt Rule
Hey Ben. New Ben Newman challenged me, man. He challenged challenge me. Yeah, but, but it's 6:32, the kid comes running in and I was, I got mad that he came running in late and I, you know, Corey, our strength coaches elite handled it and then I get a text, you know, he's late immediately, everything's real time. And then about four minutes later, hey, mistake he had. He was told to go to treatment at 6:30. That's on us. I told the staff, you know, 10 years ago at temple, you know, I probably had to be restrained. Like, yeah, yeah. And what I've learned, bro, is like instead of just reacting, saying hey, why are you late? What's going on? Or hey, what's going, like what's going on? I have a 20 year old son and during camp I was reading something on Instagram about being a good dad, like questions to ask your kid. And I said, hey, hey buddy, what's something that you don't think I probably understand about what it's like to be your age today? And man, he started talking about it and I was like, I better start asking these questions more often. I think the power of asking questions instead of talking first. And as parents, we love our kids, as coaches, we love our players, we want to fix everything. But just ask the question. Ask guys. Because to your point, telling people not to listen, don't listen to the outside noise. And when you do, you almost feel guilty that you're listening instead. Like the best thing that happened to me in my career was getting fired, was being a meme, was getting chanted at. Because I can actually sit up there and say, hey guys, I know exactly how you feel. Like I've sat there and dreaded going to the grocery store before. Like, man, I'm working 18 hours a day trying to help this team win and yet I'm embarrassed to go to the grocery store. That doesn't make any sense. But that's how you feel, right? And so I think like, I'm so glad. Not that I went through it, but I'm glad I got got through it because now I can't. I see how much pressure our guys are under.
- [55:48]
Will Compton
Buddy. Yeah. Like you, you hit it on the head, man. Like kids, young men and women, it's like there's a pressure and an Expectation that they, we, us as well, like we carry with ourselves to where if you feel like you're falling short of the expectation, like you feel like you're like letting a lot of people down, it could be self induced, it could be outside pressure that's going on that you're not aware of. It's like again, a couple examples. And I'm always talking, I'm always pulling from playing football. But Vrabel, you know, he had a thing, hey, if you're going to be late, shoot me a text when you're driving over. And if it's late, if you're late, I'm telling you it's going to be all good. And he's like, you know, if it becomes a habit, that's when it's a push problem. But if you shoot me a text and you're on your way over and you're going to be late, like, just let me know and it's going to be completely fine. It's just understanding that there's another time. Again. Washington, first preseason as a rookie to where I missed a tackle. I was a curl flat player and I missed a, I missed a tackle on the outside leg. And I'm coming to the sideline thinking this is it, like I'm going to get cut. I'm thinking all, I'm thinking this, that, the other. Because I knew what it was like playing for the Polini staff. And coach Raheem Morris comes over, he's like, comp. Well, why you got your head on the ground? Hey, who cares, man? You missed a tackle, that shit's gonna happen. You miss again, just miss on the outside leg. We got guys running inside out. I just remember thinking, damn, like I have you. You feel like you let the team down when you make a bad play. To where all I needed was a coach or somebody to say that, that I'm seeing as the authoritative figure that I'm seeing as this is the expectation, this is the jury, judge and executioner to come over and say, yo, why are you hanging your head like you missed a tackle? So what? Go back out there and do it again and when you do it again, do it on the outside leg because you got guys coming inside out. And that kind of freed up my mental. The Vrabel example kind of frees up your mental not being late. But just knowing like this coach isn't so wound tight to where if you, if you're off by a minute, you're almost scared to say what your excuse even is, other than like, yes, sir, Like, I let the team down. It won't happen again. And you're just beating. Beating yourself up versus just a pat on the back. Hey, what's going on? What happened? Like, all right, yeah, let's get that. Let's get that fixed. Or, hey, that happens. Like, go get in the meeting.
- [57:50]
Matt Rule
That's right. You know, it's just.
- [57:52]
Will Compton
Feel this world lifted off your shoulders, man.
- [57:54]
Matt Rule
There's no doubt. When I. When I left the NFL and came back to college, I was like, man, I need to build a place that's, like, has high standards, highly accountable, but also is, like, safe. Like, psychologically safe for guys. Because I think we all live in a world of the fear of making a mistake. I tell. I say to our guys all the time, like, stop living in a world of what if. Just live in a world of what is. Like, what if this happens? What if that. And I see it with my kids. I see it, like, I see it with the young people that I'm coaching. And so, like, I've now gone to a world of, like. Like, for me, I. I need to live in a world of, like, affirmations. Like, I have to, like, say to myself, like, I am this. Like, that's why I love the statement. I am an NFL linebacker. I'm a starting linebacker for Washington. Like, I am. I am. Like, we're in the last game, and I've got this unbelievably talented young player. And, you know, Will, one of the hardest things about being a coach is you look at a player who's 18, and you know exactly what they're going to be like at 22, 23, and you're just like, bro, I'm going to push you, push you. You have to go through some adversity, and you're going to end up here. But, like, they can't see that. They're just like, oh, my gosh. Like, am I going to get. Am I going to. Am I ever going to play? Am I going to get through next week? So it's so hard for. For them because they're living right now, but we see it here. So I got this guy. He's so talented, and he's out there. He's kind of playing in the last game, and you can tell he's playing not to make a mistake. And I was like, come here. I was like, every play, just say to yourself, I'm a freaking killer. Like, I'm a. Like, I said, listen, that's the stuff I say to myself. I'm 50 years old. I've been coaching for 30 years, and I still have to say to myself, I'm a killer. I have to affirm myself in whatever way, hey, what? Go be a great dad. Da, da, da, go. I have to affirm myself because I now believe more than ever in the mind, body, connection. I believe that you have to speak it into existence now. You put the work in, too. There's no doubt, but absolutely. And so now as a coach, I have to say that to the guys, there's a big difference between feeling, like, convicted, I should have done that better, and feeling shame. And I think because there's so much people are watching, everything we do now, when a guy makes a mistake now they just feel shame. And. And it's hard to play when you're feeling I'm not good enough. I mean, like, that's a hard place to live, man.
- [59:59]
Will Compton
Dude, absolutely. I think what, even what you're saying too, like, you know where this player is going to be in ex at 22 years old, and you're almost holding that standard at 22. And so you might, you know, you're critical, you're tough on them, you're everything because you know what they're going to be. But in that time, it's a lot like being a parent, too. Like, I. It's like I'll have a sense of what Ru can be. And it's like if something happens, adversity wise, you're almost thinking, all right, this is good. Like, this needs to happen without the, like, the compassion. Not like the soft, like, you need a coddle component. But in a way of. They don't even know what that looks like yet. So if I come and put my, you know, hand on r back and I kind of talk her through, hey, Dad, I used to feel embarrassed all the time. Let me tell you about sometimes, Dad, I used to be embarrassed. Or let me tell you about a time dad, dad lost his sticker and almost lost his mind. And here's how I handled it. But it's like the same thing with athletes, too. Like, yeah, they're 18 right now. They're going to be a beast at 22. But a lot of that tough coaching, I know as a player who had a lot of expectation, expected a lot of myself, when you're getting coached really hard and you make a mistake as a young player, in my mind, it would go to, man, I wonder if I'm going to be what they think I'm going to be. Like. I feel like I'm letting people down like I'm not even close to where I should be in my development when really it's like the coach is just being hard on you. He knows you can take it. He knows he can say certain things to you. But I'm not knowing that in my head. Like, I'm thinking, like, yeah, I'm thick skinned. I can take a lot of stuff, but I'm also this weird little doubt scraping in, like, man, he's coaching my ass hard. I feel like I did all right there. I guess I could have done that better. Like, am I not progressing the way they want me to? And you're just in your own head all the time in your head. Being inside your head is your own worst enemy a lot of the times.
- [61:31]
Matt Rule
So I said that team meeting, I said, you know, I said to ask first, you know, the second thing I said. And I got this from coach Moz. And it really goes like Carol Dweck and minds, you know, growth mindset versus fixed mindset. But I talked the second most powerful word I think we can do with the guys is yet. Like, I'm not a starting linebacker for Washington. I'm not a starting linebacker at Nebraska yet. Like, yet is the most powerful word. It's like to me because it's telling guys, hey, you're not where you need to be, but you're going to get there. And I think you can get there because when you feel like as a player or as a coach or as a man, as a woman, as a person, business, when you feel like, man, do people not believe in me or can I not do this? But we just need someone to come along. You said it really well. Put their hand, your hand on their back and be like, you know, my dad, I had the greatest dad. My dad couldn't. He never tried to do it for me, but he'd be right behind me, put his hand on my back and say, you can go do it now. You have to go do it. Like, not the parents that go do it for them. But my dad would say, you can do it. You just can't do it yet. Just do it again. Try it again. Try. And he would have me try it until I could do it. And as a result, you know, I, I have quotes on the wall about, I'm a lion, I will persist until I succeed. Because it's about, it's about yet. And I, I don't think that that's soft. I think that's exactly right, what you said. Like, we need people helping our kids, helping our players get to like, that next proximal zone. Like, you know, I. I told our guy. I told our guys, it's like, you. I can't dunk. You probably can still dunk. Like, remember when you were you. You wanted to jump, you jumped up, you tried to grab the net, and you finally grabbed the net, and then you're like, can I touch the rim? Then you touch the rim, Then you could grab the rim, then maybe two hands, then dunk a tennis ball, then a volleyball. Then next thing you know, Willie sees out there windmilling it.
- [63:11]
Will Compton
Yeah, yeah.
- [63:12]
Matt Rule
You always just get a little bit. You're just always getting the next thing. And if you grab the net and you say to yourself, I'll never dunk. No, you just can't dunk. Yeah, but just grab. Guess what, bro, you just grab the net. Now let's go grab the rim. And I think. I wasn't coaching like that 10 years ago. I mean, you talked. Talk to your boy Ionitis. He's gonna be like, who's this guy who's rule?
- [63:30]
Will Compton
But, yeah, I love somebody, but. I mean, you're right, though, dude. And it's again, it's not, like, all about, like, the words. The work's gotta come with it. But it's that patience with yourself. And a lot of the times, like somebody like you, yourself as an individual, sometimes it does just take somebody to, like, put their hand on your shoulder and let you know, hey, bro, don't. Don't. Don't sweat that. Like, stop. Stop putting all this expectation on. Stuff like, that shit'll come. You got to keep putting in the work. Because a big thing, too, is like, when Newman and I were writing down our goals, and I was a big listener of anything on YouTube. I'm talking Ray Lewis speeches. I'm talking Tony Robbins, Eric Thomas, a lot of those speakers out there that are giving little gems and everything else. And a lot of it, for me was, all right, you start with the end in mind. I am a starting linebacker for the Washington Redskins. And then after vision becomes process, what does the process look like? What does a starting linebacker do every day? Was he eating? How much is he sleeping? What is he putting in his body? What is he reading? What is he listening to? How much is he studying? Then you want to embody that process for that end result to come. That end result might not ever come. But what you build foundationally within that process is what's going to carry you over to the next phase you do in life. Whenever adversity does strike. And it's Leaning on that process. And the third thing, like, the third pillar for myself was always, how can you review it and see it every day? You're able to recite that quote like, you got quotes. You got IM statements. You got all these things that are probably around your office that just remind you just. Because that repetition is going to become recognition, that will become behavior. So start with the end in mind. It's all right. You have this goal for yourself. You know, day one, Will Compton is not going to be the same as day 30, Will Compton, because in the off season, you can do whatever you want. You can sleep in. You can eat cake in the morning if you wanted to. Your parents aren't around you. It's up to you. You have this awesome goal now. What does that process look like to where you can hold yourself to this standard every day? And then how do you have it in front of your face? Like, for me, it would be a lock screen on my phone. It'd be stuff around my room to where you can see this stuff every day. So then it becomes you. I don't even know how I got to that point, but I'm with you.
- [65:40]
Matt Rule
So I haven't asked you this. I talk to you a lot, but why? For the dads, like, what. What. What was the. What was the. The genesis of that?
- [65:47]
Will Compton
So before we get started, I do have a. A special guest that wanted to say hello to you. You just wanted to say hi.
- [65:55]
Sherman Young
Hey, Matt. How are we doing, brother?
- [66:00]
Matt Rule
How are you? I.
- [66:01]
Will Compton
You know what?
- [66:01]
Matt Rule
I can't wait to see you this week. I can't just.
- [66:04]
Sherman Young
I'm excited.
- [66:04]
Matt Rule
Forget the rivalry, but I'm excited to see you, brother.
- [66:07]
Sherman Young
I'm excited to see you as well. I do want to say this. You've done an outstanding job with that program. Everything about the Matt Rule year three, it seems like you have a great ball club out there that plays sound football. When you put on the film, and you're just like, these guys know what they're doing because they're coached the correct way. Seems to get a lot of integrity and character. And this is not like I'm gonna now turn this into.
- [66:28]
Matt Rule
Actually.
- [66:29]
Sherman Young
I know.
- [66:29]
Will Compton
I know my headset want to say, don't drink the ghoul lady.
- [66:33]
Sherman Young
No, I'm. I. And I know I. I'm probably gonna at some point lash out and be nasty about something, but I'm very proud of what you've done with the Corn Huskers, man. I'm looking forward to Saturday.
- [66:42]
Matt Rule
That's it.
- [66:43]
Sherman Young
That's All.
- [66:43]
Matt Rule
Thank you, brother. Thank you.
- [66:44]
Will Compton
Friendly rivalry. Good.
- [66:45]
Matt Rule
Friendly rivalry.
- [66:48]
Sherman Young
Also, your fan base is getting a little nasty. They are starting to have a little more fire, and I like it. A lot of F. A lot of F. Michigans when we're for Cincinnati, you know. Good.
- [66:59]
Matt Rule
Here's all I'll say. I love the Big Ten that, you know, we can have these amazing games, have a Bus in the bowl trophy. We can have this. But, like, you know, that's what makes the Big Ten great, that we can all agree to shake hands after the game. You know, we're classy college football. And you know what? I love? Nebraska. Nice. I think it should be six days a week, though. It shouldn't be on Saturdays. Nebraska. Nice, sir.
- [67:20]
Will Compton
Yeah.
- [67:20]
Sherman Young
Yeah, I like that.
- [67:21]
Matt Rule
All right, man.
- [67:21]
Sherman Young
Have a good one, brother.
- [67:22]
Matt Rule
That's awesome.
- [67:24]
Will Compton
Good. That's good. Good. Clean game right there.
- [67:27]
Matt Rule
Hey. Right?
- [67:28]
Will Compton
Yeah.
- [67:28]
Matt Rule
I feel like there's some sort of subliminal message in there.
- [67:30]
Will Compton
I didn't know what it'd be. I didn't know what it'd be.
- [67:35]
Matt Rule
I feel like there's something in there.
- [67:36]
Will Compton
Will.
- [67:37]
Matt Rule
There was some sort of, like, subliminal, like.
- [67:39]
Will Compton
Yeah, trust me. He's throwing seven different kinds of smoke right now.
- [67:43]
Matt Rule
So tell me before the dad's bro. Tell me about it. Tell me about it.
- [67:47]
Will Compton
So in the space that I'm in, I've always enjoyed creating in a space where I'm also a massive consumer. And since having Rue and now Scotty, like, I've. I've always found myself, like, I've loved the locker room. I love everything we do with busting with the boys. And I've always found myself, like, consuming a lot of, like, parenthood and dad content. And I just thought it'd be cool. I love being open about my family stuff. I love being open about being a dad. It's a very fun, a very tough life as well. And I thought that there was an opportunity to create a space, like, for dads, like, to build community, to engage with other dads out there. Because I feel like a lot of the times, too, it's like, moms have it way worse than dads do. And all dads husbands, like, they would agree. Mom carries, like, an insane load, whether at home, whether they're juggling jobs and raising kids like the older generations, it was more, dad goes out, dad goes out and works. Mom is home, being a homemaker and everything else. And so I felt like there was a. A space for dads to, like, share, you know, the highs and lows of being A dad. Things that you'd crack a cold one to lessons that I'm trying to consume and learn and quotes that I am digesting myself that I would love to share with other dads. Because I, I, man, it's a. And you can speak to it as well. And I, I almost, like, can't push it into words. How much having little girls have, has changed my life for the better, for the very hard and sucky parts. And I feel the place I'm in right now. I just feel a huge responsibility to be an example for her, be an example to my wife and getting to share that with everybody else. Like, we've got, we've built such a good community with busting with the boys, and I feel like there's a lot of Papa Team six people out there that have enjoyed the podcast, have enjoyed the brand, but we just talk fatherhood, man. We talk about our highs and lows. We talk about our bad experiences, messing up as a father because nobody's perfect. And if people are going to want to listen to my voice and talk about sucking at times or falling short at times, I feel like there's a relatability factor and authenticity factor there that, that dads would like. I know any again, being a consumer anytime I've heard dad speak on hard times, not about being perfect, not about all the things that make parenthood such a joy. And this, it's just love all the time. But when parents speak on the hard times, the tough moments, I sit there in my truck when I'm listening and I'm like, oh, they go through this, too. Like, this happens. It's not me just falling short. I'm hearing somebody else, they feel like they're falling short. And I really gravitated to that kind of content. So I kind of wanted to stand up a brand for the dads with co host Sherman Young. And he's been, he's been awesome. It's been. That's been a surprise of knowing what his role was going to be. He just had a little girl as well, in scarlet, and she's a few months old, a couple months old. But just build a community, man, and just talk about our wins and losses, talk about being a husband, talk about where we fall short, laugh at ourselves, not take things too seriously, and just let people know that, hey, we're. We're in the same fight with you.
- [70:50]
Matt Rule
I love that. And I. It's funny. Like, this guy sound weird, but when I saw it, I was proud that you did it. I saw it and I Was like, this is. Because I think that's what. Like, I think that's what our world needs, too. We need to talk about being great dads. But we also. It's like, we all feel so much pressure because we fail so much as fathers. Like, you know, like, you might. Like, my son might do something, and I say something afterwards, and I'm like, why in the. Why did I do that? Why. Why did I say that? And. And, like, just like a player sometimes loses their confidence, you can lose your confidence as a dad. Or like, oh, gosh, I hope. I hope he's not in therapy someday. Hope she's not in therapy someday because I said that or I did this.
- [71:24]
Will Compton
Yeah.
- [71:24]
Matt Rule
And just. But just hearing from people. Like, just hearing from people, hey, let's talk about this. And this is important. I'm fired up. You're doing it. I really am.
- [71:33]
Will Compton
Yeah. And it's like, hey, here's where I failed. Here's how I handled the situation or handled the conversation with my wife, handled the conversation with my daughter, and whether that's good, bad, indifferent, whatever that is. It's like, you know, somebody could be out there, like, listening to a situation, and it's like, oh, I went through something extremely similar. It seems like Will came out on the other side. It seemed like he had. Let me rewind it real quick and see how he went about it. Because a lot of times, like us as men, dude, we're just so. What's the word? It's like, we fail. We do a very poor job of communicating well and talking about feelings and emotions, and especially as a girl dad, like, you're in a completely different game. I grew up with two brothers. I grew up with a mom who was a superhero to me, but was very tough, like, working on the bro. She could fix the car. She could do all the things. She was a working mom. She was. She was a great mom. At home, my dad, he worked most of the time. He commuted over an hour each way and back every day from work. And a lot of those examples, it's like, men, we just do such a poor job of commuting, communicating, and just talking through emotions when we're just so wound up, we don't know how to communicate. So we just project it, and we just react, and we just need to be tough. We need to seem like we're not weak. And so I feel like having a space where we talk about our weaknesses and we talk about our shortcomings will just help the next father out.
- [72:54]
Matt Rule
I'll let you Know you're not alone, because I have guys sitting here with me and they'll be like, you know, you should go see Dr. Stout or Dr. Bree or. And they're like, ah, you know, that's not what meant. I'm like, well, I'm pretty successful and I do it. Like, why are you saying like, that's so antiquated, bro? Like, you have someone who went to school to tell you how to think, you know, even sometimes just like, take 10 thoughts you're having and just summarize them down to two. Is elite. Like, why would you not take advantage of that? But if you have a podcast, if you're not comfortable, if you have a podcast, your podcast and you can listen to for the dads and you can hear that and you can in some ways deal with the things that you're feeling. And it might just be, it might be free therapy. It might be free advice for us, those guys who need it. Speaking of free, I'm sorry. You know, that was great to see Taylor, by the way. We don't have a Taylor Lawan, but we do have somebody that wanted to say hi to you. And I think it's one of the things on House Rules. We've never done this before, but we like to have some stories about our guests. So I'll bring in the one, the only Mike Eckler. And you almost got fired recruiting. Something like that happen? I did.
- [73:58]
Will Compton
I did.
- [73:59]
Mike Eckler
Coach Osborne came in and he told me, he said, he said, listen, Missouri and Illinois turned him in for illegal recruiting. It appears that, you know, you can't have someone's name tattooed on your, on your body. I stood up. I just want you to know, I stood up and I said, coach. Because he said, coach Osborne said, no, Will's going to lose a year of eligibility and you're going to be off the road for a year. And I said, coach, I resign right now. Will Compton cannot lose a year. So I had your back from the, from the get go, by the way.
- [74:32]
Will Compton
You have my back.
- [74:33]
Mike Eckler
Eight, by the way.
- [74:34]
Will Compton
What's up?
- [74:35]
Mike Eckler
Pre birthday man, 36 years old almost.
- [74:39]
Will Compton
Yeah. On Friday. So I'm open for a birthday hug from you. And listen, not one of your back slapping ones. Like, just give me a genuine, like, we're boys hug.
- [74:48]
Mike Eckler
Listen, this is a big game for us now because, you know, when coach, he's my agent now. Because he called you. Because Will called you up and he told me if we win this game, I don't owe him the 3%. So I got a Lot riding on this game.
- [75:04]
Will Compton
Yeah, we'll talk about those 3% fees after the season's over.
- [75:09]
Matt Rule
Hey, you know, it's funny, like, I'm one of those guys, like, I don't like when people tell me who to hire, you know, I'm just stubborn like that. I'm Italian, you know, and everyone kept saying, Mike Eckler, Mike Eckler. I was like. And then all of a sudden, Will called me. He goes, hey, you need to look at Mike Eckler. I was like, ah, I respect the man, football wise. I gotta listen to him. And then, and then the great. One of the greatest interviews I've ever had. But the one thing is, he treated me like a player the whole time. So he was like, you know, because if you've ever sit in this movies, as you know, he's like, we're gonna play with what? And the whole room yells, physical leverage. What? So he's doing it to me in the interview and I'm exhausted. I'm like, after about 10 minutes, I'm like, I can't do this, bro. It's elite. I love the Socratic method, I love the getting me engaged. But I'm going to drink my coffee and you just do it on air or Coach Snow was with me, right? I was like. But it was the best interview and probably the best teacher meeting room teacher I've ever seen in my life.
- [75:57]
Will Compton
Mike Eckler, dude, it's you do with Coach Eckler. If you know you're going to go into a meeting with them, you need to have a heart out. Already set scheduled. So that way you can get, you get, you can get out of there. You need an exit strategy, cuz that dude will keep you in there. He's just, he's juiced the entire time.
- [76:14]
Matt Rule
Here's my favorite. I walk by his office, you got to walk by his office. You got like this, you got to walk and walk and why you got to go like you're looking on your phone? Hey, get a sec. You got a sec? Look at this rep on punt return today. Come here, come here, come here. Yeah, you got two minutes. 47 minutes later you're like, all right, we're gonna. No. But he love. The man's got passion. He loves the game, bro. That's, that's the kind of to play for.
- [76:33]
Will Compton
His first phone call to me as a recruit was he called me up and he's like, Will Compton, number one linebacker in the country. He's like this your new linebacker coach, Mike Eckler. I listen, I told my kids. I told my kids that if Will Compton doesn't stay committed to Nebraska, they're not going to have a father anymore. Because I'm going to climb up to Memorial Stadium, to the top of Memorial Stadium, and I'm going to jump. Those are the first few sentences he said to me on the phone. Then he comes to my school and he gives me this envelope, and, you know, I'm getting recruited. Yeah, I'm getting recruited by him. And he gives me this envelope. He was like, hey, I just want you to know. Like, this is. You know, I want you to know how I feel about you. And hands me an envelope. And I'm sitting there like, oh, snap. Am I about to. We about to get some money under the table or something. I open it up, and it's a card. I open the card, and it's a stick of gum. And the. The note on the card just says, there's more where that came from if you come to Nebraska.
- [77:35]
Matt Rule
Well, I'm kind of like a northeast guy. Like. Like, you say, how we going to do this week? I'm like, oh, we're going to try. We're going to work. We'll see what happens. And as you know, with him, he'll be like, he. I'm the head coach. He's like, what do you think? I said, we'll try. He goes, hey, coach, we don't wth. We're not wishing, trying, and hoping. Finally I said to him, I said, look, bro, I'm from New York City. Like, this is how we talk.
- [77:52]
Will Compton
Just let me.
- [77:53]
Matt Rule
You having a good day, Matt? Yeah, I'm okay. We don't have good days. We have great days. I'm like, I'm having an okay day.
- [77:58]
Will Compton
Yeah, yeah, yeah. Like, for the love of God. But I remember calling you about him. I was. I was super nervous just because I talked to Eric. And I'm like, hey, this isn't a move where it's going to be X, Y, and Z. And I'm thinking, you only have so many times where you can. You can pull a card and be like, hey, I feel like I can reach out to Coach Rule and ask about this. I know coaches get bombarded with, hey, you should look at this guy each and every year, because coaches will text me, hey, I know you know this OC Or, I know you know this guy from here. I know you know that guy from here. There's a connection here. If I could just talk to him. And Eck was one to where I'm like, hey, if I'm going to put my. I told you, I was like, I. I will put my reputation online if this doesn't work. This is 1000% my fault. If you could just give him 15 minutes of an interview. You don't have to hire him. You don't have to do nothing. Just a phone call. My entire reputation is on the line for Mike Eckler.
- [78:47]
Matt Rule
No.
- [78:47]
Will Compton
And sure enough, he knocked it out of the park.
- [78:48]
Matt Rule
Yeah. He didn't bring me any gum on the interview, though. I don't know.
- [78:52]
Will Compton
He's lost the step.
- [78:56]
Matt Rule
See you, brother. All right, we're going to wrap up Friday. Birthday coming to Lincoln. What do you think about Saturday? How you feeling?
- [79:03]
Will Compton
I feel confident, man. I feel, you know, it's one of those. It's one of those games to where again, I think about Nebraska as the logo as, as the brand in the last, you know, really since, I guess, the Pani era. I know we had some early success with Coach Riley for a second, but really, since the Polini era, it's been down and we hired you or Nebraska hired you. And it's like, you know, everybody talks about the culture and everything else and slowly but surely you felt, you've seen, you've witnessed. We were in a spot last year where I think we started, what, five and one and kind of lost, kind of went on a losing. Losing record on the back half. Yeah. To our first year. It's like, oh, this is, you know, there's. There's going to be some things to build on it. And I think we're at a spot to where, hey, you've talked about. We've lost the bad games. We've lost games by a lot to teams. How can you lose by a little? We've been masters at losing one score games. You made big plays. The team made big plays against Cincinnati when the defense needed it. It's like turning on the tape. Tell us we can't stop, you know, tell us that hard talk. You can't make the play. He gets a defensive holding call, keeps his competitive composure and goes up and seals the game at the end the second quarter when back or not, jars the ball loose just to get the ball back and go in and get some points before halftime. A field goal kicker. We didn't even attempt a field goal over 50 yards last year. And he bangs it in from 52. Just all of those like, little things to where the optimum. It's like you just, just feel it starting to turn and I know I'm Speaking for everybody, I know I'm a delusional Nebraska fan, but handling business against these easier opponents where we've. The standard's been. The standard, no matter what lineup is on the field. Like you look at last year, I mean, we played Georgia Southern tight and lose it, you know, pissed on our leg with a couple of those teams. But even the easier teams last year, it's like, okay, you might put up 30 on them in the first half, but it might only be 7 to 5, 14 points in the second half because the guys let off the gas in the second half. Here, it's like you've seen such a product and such a culture, like, take over. And the standard is a standard. No matter who's on the field to where I'm juiced, I'm excited because this is. This is the first test. This is. They got a hell of a quarterback in Bryce Underwood. It's a team that can run the football. It's a team that can play good defense. It's a team that was in the game with Oklahoma, who's one of the better teams in. In the country. And we get. What a privilege it is to get an opponent like that. Right now when we kick off conference play, I'm fired up. I'm sure I'm going to get overconfident by the time the game comes, but it's like been one of those, you know, this confidence, this nerves. It's like I felt going into Colorado last year, like this can be where you. You tip the boat and really show up in a big way at Nebraska and your boy is fired up again. It's. I don't have all the right words right now, but just know that your boy is. Your boy is juice. I think it's a massive weekend for the program.
- [81:59]
Matt Rule
You know, I remember when this. When I was out of work and the job was kind of open, there was a couple jobs open. So every weekend we would watch, you know, Colorado was open. We watched Colorado, Arizona State, Wisconsin. They were late. You know, Jim Leonard was the interim coach, but I would watch Nebraska. And I remember watching the Nebraska, Wisconsin game at the end of that year, year in 2022. And I remember, like, like, you know, just wasn't a lot of juice at the game. Right. And so even last week, and this is not. This is not about me, this is about, just about the whole fan base, everyone that works here, what Troy Dan has done. Our players like to have a game like this, like a team that won the national championship two years ago, to have A game like this, with this much excitement and this many people coming in, it's like. It's like what we wanted to bring to Lincoln, we wanted to bring, like, expectations. We wanted to bring juice, energy, big games. And even last week against Houston Christian, like, the fan base, the students, like, a lot of them left at halftime. And so I was talking on the radio this week, I'm like, good. I want the students to come to the game, watch us beat someone by 50, leave at halftime, go hit O Street, have the time of their lives. I want these kids going to college. Like, you go to the football game, and you expect us to win. And so, you know, it's a great team in Michigan. I think we have a really, really good football team. I love this team, but I'm just proud of all the guys that were there in Year one, the Giffords, the Ty Robinsons, the Reimers. The guys. The guys that have been battling to get us to the point where we're not an afterthought, we're not a joke. We're not like, you know, I tell the guys all the time. Jacob Reese said it in 19. Whatever. First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they attack you and try to kill you, and then they build a statue to you. There's stages of building something. You know, they ignore you, they don't pay attention to you, then they kind of laugh at you, then they start coming after you. And we're in that stage right now, and if we'll just persevere and grind through it, you, me, the players, the fan base, everybody stick together and grind through them. There's going to be ups and downs, but eventually we want to build a statue. Not to. Not to me, not to this, but, like, to the. We want another statue here. And so I'm excited to see you. I'm excited for the game. I'm excited to. I'm excited to see what we're going to continue to build ahead, brother.
- [84:09]
Will Compton
Yeah, I think we learned a lot about the. I think we learned a lot about the boys this week. It's. It's. This is a game where it's like, you're going to get some. You're going to get hit in the mouth. Like, that's going to happen at some point in the game, and it's that don't blink mentality. Hey, listen, we got to play these. These teams the last two weeks. This is a different.
- [84:27]
Sherman Young
That.
- [84:27]
Will Compton
This is where you get to. You get to understand what you're actually made of. It happened in Cincinnati. But again, that's week one football. It's like I'm sitting here. It's like you got a formidable opponent with the Michigan Wolverines. It's going to be a fist fight. Can you lock in for 60 minutes when those gates close? Can Memorial Stadium be rocking all 60 minutes long when backs against the wall and sometimes the ball's not going to bounce your way? Matter of fact, hope the ball doesn't bounce your way. How are you going to go back out on the field and keep going and keep looking at your guys to your right and left, communicate front to back and just know like, hey, lock us in this foxhole and who's going to come out, who's going to come out after the game? I. I feel like, dude, I'm. I'm so juiced. I'm fired up for you. I'm fired up for Nebraska fans. I feel like there's a feel. You can feel it. Again, talking on the Hype videos, which I love doing, by the way, but you feel an expectation coming now with Nebraska a little bit people talking a lot more. There's pressure. Oh, we didn't. We didn't do X, Y and Z. Ah, we kind of looked a little like I'm supporting, surprisingly, you know, one by three against Cincinnati, it's like, let people keep talking because we haven't been talked about in a minute. And this pressure is what. Is what you want. You want it. No other way. This is why you come to the University of Nebraska to prop up big games when Michigan comes to town. These are the spotlight. This is the spotlight you want to be in, man.
- [85:40]
Matt Rule
You're a coach. I'm walking the guys before the game. Like, guys, I didn't. I don't have a pregame speech. I'm show you this video real quick.
- [85:48]
Will Compton
Bang.
- [85:50]
Matt Rule
That's exactly. But no, you're exactly right. First and first they ignore you, then they laugh at you. Let them say what they got to say, then they start to attack you. Let them come. That's where we're at. The one, the only will come. I got. I don't want to get in trouble. I don't want to get in trouble with Rue. I don't want to get in trouble. I've pulled you for a long time, but I can't be more grateful, man, and tell you what, I can think of no better person. Person to stand front and center and take on all the bullets for, For. For this university and for this football program than what you've been doing. We're going to work our tails off to make you proud. Brother.
- [86:22]
Will Compton
Brother, I'm ready to go. You know I'm always going to be there. I love you guys. I appreciate you guys. You guys have been great to my team. And hey, face paint's going to be on. I'm ready for war this weekend.
- [86:33]
Matt Rule
Appreciate you, man. That's it. Thank you, guys.
- [86:35]
Will Compton
Thank you.
- [86:36]
Podcast Host
All right, Coach, anything but but football. And today a little different because we got a lot of questions from the audience. People love the show. And so this is an interesting one. Katus 3 says Coach Love the show as an organization builder.
- [86:54]
Matt Rule
Right.
- [86:54]
Podcast Host
And he's somebody in that does well in business, in nonprofits. He said, I'd like your advice on getting people to give more discretionary action effort so we align a vision and mission and values, ensuring people have transparency. And to the directives, you say, like, what you do is you have everyone there giving their best every day. What secrets do you have?
- [87:22]
Matt Rule
Well, I think, I think the first thing is you have to say to yourself, people who don't want to give effort, you can't make them give effort. Right. So I think, like, not wasting your time. You know, Coach Belichick, they always talk about the rule of thirds. A third of your team is highly engaged. A third of your team is not engaged, and a third of the team's in the middle. If you spend your time talking to the third, the bottom third of your team, the middle part actually wants the attention will be like them. If you spend your time praising the top third, the middle will be like them. So don't waste your time on the bottom part. Right now, the gallop pole, you know, a lot of that comes out of some of that stuff to the strength. Strength builder and all that comes out of the University of Nebraska in our business school, and I read a lot about that and a lot of there's a lot of people that are just disenfranchised. What I think is really crucial is that you set a vision for what you want. You set expectations and standards for what you'll accept and not accept. But you have to let people. And this is where I've grown. You have to let people do what they think they need to do. If people feel like, okay, I know what the objective is, okay, coach wants this or business wants this. If you're always stepping in and saying, no, no, don't do this, do this, they pretty soon they just become workers. And you want owners. Like, if you look at all of our T shirts at University of Nebraska, they'll say, own it. I want ownership. And so if you say, hey, no, you own this, you got this. Even if you disagree. It's so hard for me. You know, I want to just argue about everything. But if you say, like, hey, no, this is your thing. Go do what you think is right, I think what happens is people start to, like, they start to feel like this is their thing, and then they start to, like, live and die with this thing. Like. And so I think giving ownership to people, they'll naturally respond. And I think doing what I did at halftime, saying, when someone's not given enough, don't tell them they're not giving enough. Ask them, are you giving enough? Do you think we're putting enough time in? Are you putting enough time in? I think people inherently know, and a lot of times we just get frustrated with, like, we want to give more, we want to do more. We just don't know how or we're struggling. I think it's asking people, like, what can I do to help you figure this out? Or what can I do to, you know, really, as if you want them to own it, you got to own it, too. If the people working for you, the people playing for you, the people you work with, if they're not completely bought in, I look at that as a failure on my part. So I have to not give a big speech, not put something up on the walls, not do a PowerPoint, but go sit one on one in their office, not mine. That's one secret I've learned over the last couple years. Go sit in someone else's office, put your feet up on their desk. Not literally, metaphorically, not literally and figuratively. And just, you know, say, say connect their, their work performance with, hey, what's your mission here and what's important to you? Like, if I know that the most important thing in your life is, is your job, or if it's your family or if it's your faith or whatever, then it's easier for me to connect it back, back to those things. And so I think that those things are really, really important. They take a lot of time, and they don't show up on the bottom line. But it's the key. It's why I sit in the lunchroom. It's why I go down and sit in the sauna with the guys. Because it's, it's. Those conversations are what, what make people feel appreciated. And when you're appreciated, you feel ownership. And when you feel ownership, then you're going to spend all the time you need, you know, like, I always tell the guys, like, the bank gets robbed, the bank burns down. One guy's. One guy's sitting there looking at it. One guy's crying. Who do you think lost their life savings? The guy. The guy crying, right? Like, the more you invest, the more you're going to care about what happens. And so ownership, I think, is a really key thing, and we have to give that away. We can't be in control. And that's the growth. And some of the people that work for me probably watch this and be like, really, Like, I'm still. I'm a work in progress, but I think it's. It's really important. You have to do it, and you.
- [91:06]
Podcast Host
Will let them fail. Like you little task, right? Like, learn through that stuff, work through that stuff and not always jump in to save them.
- [91:14]
Matt Rule
Exactly. It's so funny you say that. So we shot. We shot an episode of House Rules this summer with Greg. Greg Brown, the CEO of Motorola. And so that'll air at some point. He's a great friend and a mentor. And I was listening to him speak at a conference, and he was saying, like, there's some times where he could pick up the phone and he could call. He knows what the problem is, and he could call and he could get something done in 30 seconds that they need done, but he won't do it. He makes his vice president or whoever has that. He makes them work on it, and it might take two or three days, but that is their job. And he cannot take away from them the ability to do their job, even though he knows he can do it faster, because then he'll consistently do that. The reason why he could do it in 30 seconds is because he had to do it for a long time. And so I think, for me, you know, I think we all, like, we want to be fixers, right? We want to fix this, fix that. But in order to get. To get people that feel like, A, that they're trusted, and B, they have solutions is to let them fail. Let them work. Always there to help if needed, but they've got to do it. And so that's. That's a major, major shift that I've made in the last two years.
- [92:21]
Podcast Host
Oh, that's awesome, Kadus. Thank you. We appreciate the question. And keep them coming, everybody. Keep putting it in there. Coach loves this stuff. All right, look ahead. Time. Obviously, it's Michigan. You're going to be talking all about Michigan. I got two things. One, the step up now the Big Ten play. How does that amp up. How do you ramp that up after the last couple weeks?
- [92:49]
Matt Rule
You know, we're lucky that we played a Power 4 opponent, you know, in playing Cincinnati. Now, obviously, you know, we'll have to wait and see what Cincinnati's record is, but you know, I've watched them, their scores the last two weeks. They're exploding on offense. They're throwing for a ton of yards. So we had that nail biter of a game. Comes down to the fourth quarter. Wasn't like we got out of there at halftime. We had to play four quarters. That's one of the key things, I think, getting ready from like when you have, if you have a non conference where you've only played, you know, two quarters, two and a half quarters, all of a sudden now got to play a full game. Are you in shape? Are you ready? We've practiced the last few weeks to get ready for the Big Ten. Yeah, we've, we've worked, we've gone good on good. We haven't said, hey, let's take it eat. We have worked and grinded physically to make sure that we're ready for this stretch that we're going to hit because, you know, we played three games, we have nine Big Ten games in a row. And there's difficult travel, there's difficult weather, and there's really good football teams. And so there's nothing to it but to do it, you got to just jump in and go do it. You got to go play that level of competition and just trust that your players are going to, they're going to adjust. This is a great football team we're playing. You know, we're facing a ranked team, you know, but that's why you came to Nebraska. You came to Nebraska to play in games like this. And so it'll be exciting, it'll be a great competition and, you know, I'll try to do my job and encourage the guys to go. Our players go out and do their jobs and see what happens.
- [94:06]
Podcast Host
How do you tell Dylan? I guess you don't. Or do you tell Dylan to. Obviously all kinds of noise. It's Dylan Raiola and Bryce Underwood and even though they're not on the field at the same time, this is the big story of the game. This will be the headlines. This is the sizzle. How do you tell them to ignore it or how do you address it with him?
- [94:28]
Matt Rule
Yeah, I don't, I don't think so because I think he knows, like how good the Michigan defense is. You know, this is a, this is a top 25. You know, they have a top 25 run defense. This is Wink Martindale. This is, you know, they get off the bus and they're pressuring you like, this is an elite defense with an elite defensive coordinator. And, you know, Dylan understands it's, it's, it's him making the right check him executing the right plays. It's him throwing the ball to the right guys. It's just. It's just that content needs those storylines to get people interested. But the football part of it is just, hey, how well can I play each play? And so I trust Dylan. I think the great thing is he's played in a bunch of big games already here. He's played a bunch of big games in high school. He grew up in a football family. He knows that the key to being a great quarterback is controlling what you can control and blocking out all the noise.
- [95:14]
Podcast Host
Isn't it true there is this content world or hype world or whatever you want to call it, and then there's the football piece of it. I was having this conversation today about the Eagles. Oh, what's wrong with the Eagles offensive? What's wrong with David's offense? First of all, you played Spags, right? You won the game. It was that kind of game. Like, it's not about numbers and fantasy football and passing yards and stats. It's about football. But it's like there's two worlds, and once in a while, they'll kind of intersect.
- [95:47]
Matt Rule
That's right. No, it's so funny you say that because the last couple years we've had a top 20 defense and we haven't scored a ton of points. And so when we've won, we've won, like, close, low scoring games. And people have a tendency to be like, I was an ugly game. I wasn't a great game. Because they just, they just associate good football with scoring a ton of points. And there's beauty in. There's beauty in playing great defense. There's beauty in a pooch punt, putting the ball down at the eight. There's beauty in running the football to end the game and, you know, taking a knee in victory instead of scoring. You know, there's beauty in all that, but that's the football part of it. You know, the other world is like, hey, you know, just, it's, it's, it's points and it's, you know, at the end of the day, like, in the National Football League, you know, points and plays and passes equals, you know, viewership. And so I completely get it. And, you know, What? Like, that's the reason why they, you know, that's why they build huge stadiums. I mean, people want to see those things, but. But the key is to score one more point than your opponent and go one and.
- [96:44]
Will Compton
Oh.
- [96:44]
Matt Rule
Every week and execute your mission. That's. That's really, at the end of the day, what the most important thing is. Like, you probably know, but, like, you know the Eagle Eagles. Eagles won the super bowl last year. Yes. Like, does it matter if they won by one point or 30 points? No. They won the super bowl. And so we get that kind of in the playoffs. It's just hard early on because we're trying to make a. We're trying to make. We're trying to predict who's going to be good and who's not.
- [97:09]
Will Compton
Right.
- [97:09]
Matt Rule
Trying to be relative with everything. It'll all play. That's why I keep talking about the Big Ten. Like, yeah, we got nine Big Ten games. It'll all play out on the football field. And we will know by the end of the year who the good teams are based upon who wins and who has quality wins versus quality. Quality teams.
- [97:24]
Podcast Host
Yeah. Not about style points. I'm with you.
- [97:28]
Matt Rule
Well, that's it. Thank you for joining us for another episode. Don't forget to, like, share and subscribe on YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts. And please follow us on social media at House Rules. Until next time.