House Rhules – Ep. 8: What Do Dan Wolken and Matt Rhule Know About Horse Racing?

Date: October 9, 2025
Hosts: Matt Rhule (Nebraska Football Head Coach), Anthony "the Cuz" Gargano
Guest: Dan Wolken (Yahoo Sports Senior Writer)

Overview

This episode of House Rhules brings together Nebraska head football coach Matt Rhule and co-host Anthony "the Cuz" Gargano for a spirited discussion on college football’s new landscape, NFL surprises, leadership in sports, memorable sporting events, the magic of horse racing, and the power of connection and response—on and off the field. Later, they are joined by acclaimed journalist Dan Wolken to dive deep into sports media, covering major events and why we all love the drama and unpredictability of sports.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Nebraska Football and the Power of Response

Timestamps: 00:01 – 04:56

• The hosts dissect Nebraska’s recent win, emphasizing how teams respond to adversity, both in-game and after setbacks.
  • Rhule: “You’re gonna get punched in the face. You know, what are you gonna do? You're gonna swing back, you're gonna lay on the ground. They swung and they kept swinging, which I was proud of.” (01:56)
• Rhule highlights standout players for their unselfishness, grit, and adaptability under tough weather conditions (“It's like 50 mile an hour winds. It's unbelievable, it’s crazy…” (01:01))
• Emphasis on the challenge and pride of Midwest football, playing in unpredictable elements, and how it forges tougher athletes.

2. The Changing College Football Landscape

Timestamps: 04:58 – 12:07

• A lively critique of preseason polls and the folly of early rankings given the rise of parity thanks to transfer portal and NIL.
  • Rhule: “It's a new day in college football every single week. You don't know which teams are going to show up because the talent has been spread out now…” (05:20)
• Discussion of how teams’ identities now evolve rapidly across the season—much like the NFL—with previous underdogs rising and favorites falling.
  • Gargano: “Just like the NFL, what you see in September doesn't really mean what you're going to see in early November.” (07:50)
• Rhule shares ideas for future playoff structures—introducing more meaningful games by having playoffs among 3rd-6th place teams—arguing it would create exciting, consequential football weekends.

3. NFL Parity, Upsets & the Mindset of Underdogs

Timestamps: 12:07 – 17:11

• Recaps a wild NFL weekend full of unexpected results and upsets.
  • Rhule: “What makes the NFL so great is the parody… all of these close games or these upsets that come, come down to like a player here, a play there.” (12:54)
• Explores the psychology of underdog and favorite:
  • When you're not expected to win, you play freer and sometimes realize you can compete.
  • Rhule: “Sometimes when either you're the underdog and you're not supposed to win and you realize you can play, or you get down and you say, screw, hey, let's just go play. You start to play free and it just becomes the game we all played when we were kids in the park.” (16:00)

Interview Segment: Dan Wolken – Inside Sports Journalism & Lifelong Sports Passion

4. Introduction to Dan Wolken

Timestamps: 19:38 – 20:26

• Wolken shares his excitement for the new role at Yahoo Sports and the similarities to changing teams as a coach.

5. Sports Media in the Modern Age

Timestamps: 20:26 – 27:00

• The permanence of takes on the internet and learning to take criticism in stride.
  • Wolken: “When you're in the opinion business, you're going to have opinions people don't like... you gotta be able to be a big boy and take the hits.” (21:54)
• The evolution from small-town newspaper apprenticeships to democratized entry points via the internet, but also the loss of personal relationships with subjects.

6. Life on the Road: Balancing Big Events & Sports Passion

Timestamps: 28:15 – 30:45

• Wolken describes his typical workweek, intensive reading habits, and juggling a wide sports beat.
• Favorite events:
  • The 2015 Belmont Stakes: “I'm standing next to Joe Torrey and the Burger King mascot… the horse wins. And then there's just this roar for, like, 15 minutes... People were so happy, so pumped up to be there, to see history.” (28:20)
  • Olympics: The adrenaline and exhaustion of covering multiple marquee moments in a single day, such as the tennis gold medal and 100m dash in Paris.

7. Horse Racing, The Kentucky Derby, and the Magic of Sports

Timestamps: 30:45 – 33:58

• Rhule and Wolken bond over the shared magic of the Derby and the emotional swings of owners and fans.
  • Wolken: “You get one shot a year, one shot, two minutes, and everything has to go right.”
• The universality of sports: regardless of status, everyone is subject to the drama and unpredictability.

8. Why We Love Sports

Timestamps: 33:58 – 36:15

• Rhule & Wolken discuss the appeal of sports: its reality, drama, true test of character, and the spectrum of human emotion.
  • Wolken: “It brings out all of the best and worst qualities in people… whatever is inside you is going to come out, right?” (34:18)
• Triumph and defeat as primal human experiences, stretching back thousands of years.

9. Underdogs, Dynasties, and the Need to Compete

Timestamps: 36:15 – 39:40

• Rhule admires both underdogs and dynasties for their perseverance and relentless competitiveness.
• Wolken argues that limited opportunity in college football makes every game more dramatic and that Nebraska’s foundation is moving in the right direction, as “tradition rises in college sports eventually.” (36:15)

10. Overlooked Stories & The Evolution of Athletics

Timestamps: 37:38 – 40:22

• Wolken points out tennis’ underappreciated athletic demands and technological progress across all sports.
• Rhule compares attending an NHL or pro tennis match to football—proximity and context breed appreciation for the athletes’ capabilities.

11. Mutual Respect: Coaches and Media

Timestamps: 40:22 – 41:54

• Rhule thanks Wolken for his fairness, acknowledging the hard balance of criticism with respect.
  • Rhule: “If we could all learn just to talk to each other and listen… we’d be a better world.”
  • Wolken: “As long as you do it in a fair and accurate way… coaches and the media can definitely have that respectful and constructive relationship.”

Personal Stories and Listener Questions

12. Biggest Childhood Obstacle and Lessons Learned

Timestamps: 43:54 – 48:35

• Rhule shares his peripatetic childhood—moving frequently, not always fitting in, but learning to connect with new people everywhere.
  • Rhule: “The things we think separate us, they're so minuscule compared to the things that connect us.”
• Drawing connections across cultures, communities, and within his own team to foster unity and empathy.

13. Travel, Connecting, and Team Culture

Timestamps: 48:35 – 51:44

• Advice for players: Use tech to stay in touch, but also seek new experiences; “seek discomfort.”
  • Rhule recounts renting a Vespa in Italy and joining a table of elderly men to soak in local life.

14. Football Logistics and Maryland Prep

Timestamps: 49:53 – 53:09

• Rhule details logistics for Nebraska’s Maryland road trip—why they're flying out Thursday to reduce stress and distractions.
• Maryland preview: strong program, tough opponent, challenging away environment.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Preseason polls? Maybe we should just wait and watch everybody.”
  – Matt Rhule (00:00, echoed at 05:20)

• “Sometimes when either you're the underdog… or you get down and you say, screw, hey, let's just go play. You start to play free and it just becomes the game we all played when we were kids in the park.”
  – Matt Rhule (16:00)

• “You get one shot a year, one shot, two minutes, and everything has to go right.”
  – Dan Wolken, on the Derby (32:54)

• “It’s the ultimate reality show… when you get in the pressure, when you get in the moment, whatever is inside you is going to come out.”
  – Dan Wolken (34:18)

• “The things we think separate us, they're so minuscule compared to the things that connect us.”
  – Matt Rhule (47:22)

• “As long as you do it in a fair and accurate way… coaches and the media can definitely have that respectful and constructive relationship.”
  – Dan Wolken (41:14)

Important Segment Timestamps

• Nebraska’s response to adversity: 00:01 – 04:56
• College football parity, playoff ideas: 04:58 – 12:07
• NFL upsets and the underdog mentality: 12:07 – 17:11
• Dan Wolken interview intro: 19:38 – 20:26
• Working in sports media, journalism’s evolution: 20:26 – 27:00
• Belmont Stakes & Olympics memories: 28:15 – 30:45
• Why sports matter, universality: 33:58 – 36:15
• Overlooked sports, tennis’ evolution: 37:38 – 39:40
• Coach/media mutual respect: 40:22 – 41:54
• Biggest childhood obstacle: 43:54 – 48:35

Tone and Style

The conversation is authentic, informal, and deeply insightful. Rhule’s candor about both football and life’s lessons sets an encouraging, humble tone. Gargano brings energy and fan perspective. Wolken is reflective, articulate, and passionate about storytelling. There’s wisdom, humor, and open—often vulnerable—sharing throughout.

Summary

This episode of House Rhules offers a front-row seat to the challenges and joys of competitive sports, the evolution of journalism, and the personal journeys that shape both athletes and reporters. With honest breakdowns of football’s new era, a window into the sporting world’s biggest events, and moving reflections on connection and resilience, it’s a compelling listen for sports fans and seekers of life’s lessons alike.