Shatel: Matt Rhule has compiled an experienced, seasoned Nebraska staff. Will it pay off?

LINCOLN Old Guys Rhule.

Thats a definite theme around Nebraska football these days from the highest ranking assistants on staff to the guest speaker of the spring coaching clinic.

That was a coach named John Cook, 68 years young and a retired volleyball legend.

Cook told the large group of visiting coaches about his early days as a high school football coach.

But he also got into concepts and management style for his national title-winning program at NU.

The head football guy was taking notes.

Hes a great teacher, great coach, Matt Rhule said.

The best coaches are teachers no matter what their subject is.

Those teachers come in all ages.

Rhule is an equal opportunity football man.

His new defensive line coach has eight years of experience all in the NFL.

His new receivers coach has been at it a total of four years.

But Rhules staff is heavy on old lions.

He leans toward their experience.

And craves their wisdom.

Theres defense coordinator John Butler: 20 years of college coaching experience and 10 in the NFL.

Theres offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen, who jumped into college coaching in 1993 and has been a head coach at two Big 12 stops.

Theres special teams coordinator Mike Ekeler, who acts like he drinks from the fountain of youth but has been coaching college football for 22 years.

Theres quarterback coach Glenn Thomas, who has coached in college and in the NFL since 2001.

Last but never least is Phil Snow, 69, Rhules long-time defensive mind and confidant.

Snow began as a high school coach in 1976.

Hes had 37 years in college and eight in the NFL.

Snows title is associate head coach.

Some Husker fans wondered why you would pay an old coach to come in and hang around and be a consultant.

Because its a really smart idea.

And because having so many sets of old eyes around watching film could lead toward one positive play that makes a difference in a win next fall.

Or more.

When they changed the rules, you could bring in a coach and he doesnt have to go on the road, Rhule said.

It made sense to bring these guys in.

Phil doesnt want to go on the road.

Having that ability, a bigger staff, I wanted great recruiters but I wanted experience as well.

Sometimes you hire young dynamic coaches but the first time they face adversity its the first time theyve seen it.

Whether its Dana or Phil, everything that happens theyve seen before.

Snows career reads like a history of college football.

In 1988, at California, he was defending UCLAs Troy Aikman.

In 1995, his Arizona State defense was run over by Tom Osbornes Nebraska.

A year later, Snows ASU unit shut out the Huskers.

In 2019, as Baylor defensive coordinator, Snow was scheming to stop CeeDee Lamb at OU.

And a West Virginia offense run by a guy named Holgorsen.

A year later, with Rhule at the Carolina Panthers, Snows defense went up against Patrick Mahomes at Arrowhead.

They lost a 33-30 shootout.

Butler can relate.

Two years later, in 2022, Butlers secondary with the Buffalo Bills got burned by Mahomes in the famous 13 seconds playoff win at Arrowhead.

You think these guys have seen everything.

But then you hear Butler tell the story of watching Snow last week in NU practice.

Hes out there coaching up freshman DBs, coaching his (butt) off, having fun, Butler said of Snow.

Im out here watching his drills and I coached DBs in the NFL for 10 years, coached them for 20 years.

And Im learning stuff.

Thats the beauty of coaching, at any level.

Its a never-ending education.

The best coaches know that they never arrived at the destination.

Theres always something to learn.

But the mental rolodex of the old coaches comes in very handy, especially during games when the other side pops a surprise scheme or personnel group.

Part of our job is to see around the corner, Thomas said.

Hey, this could happen.

So we try to prevent that with something youve seen in your past, your history, before.

That experience gives them a leg up so that if I see this, Ill know what to do.

Theres a line in a song by the Traveling Wilburys song that goes, Even if youre old and gray you still got something to say.

That fits here.

And, really, in all areas of life (sports writing, too).

With players coming and going and making big bucks, coaching is more and more a younger mans game.

But there has to be room for the coaches who still love to put on the coaching shirt, grab a whistle and grind away on the practice field.

Ill always contend that former NU coaches Bo Pelini and Scott Frost could have used mentor-like figures on their staff.

You cant fault a young coach for surrounding himself with people he knows and trusts.

But as Pelini and Frost found their way in big jobs, experience could have been a welcome guide.

An extra edge.

Rhule understands.

Hes created a room where old and young sit around and talk football.

Thats what we do all day, said offensive line coach Donovan Raiola, entering his 15th year of coaching.

Talk ball.

Its awesome.

You get different points of view.

You try to learn something every day.

As a younger guy, you also learn what not to do.

As an example, Raiola said he specifically talks to both Butler and Snow about what he should expect from defensive fronts and techniques.

Youre preparing to beat (the defense), Raiola said.

So I want to know how is he going to get off this block.

Or the linebacker is going to escape the block like this.

You learn a little more how to attack it when you know what theyre trying to do.

None of this guarantees anything for Nebraska football next fall.

But its undeniable that this is the most experience NU has had since Frank Solichs staff with Osborne holdovers.

Thats not a bad thing.

The worst thing you can ever do is stop growing in this business, Butler said.

Everything changes schemes, personnel, rules.

Its never ending.

If youre set in your ways and dont adapt, youre going to be extinct.

Im at the point where Im an older coach now.

Im 51.

Im like, me and Snow, were getting ready to go into the retirement home together.

Not just yet.

These guys still have something to say..

This article has been shared from the original article on kearneyhub, here is the link to the original article.