Steven Sipple: Rhule emphasizes Gramstad’s “infectious” attitude; Nebraska to go back into dorm; and coach eyes deep football dive
Things I know, and things I think I know: The Jalyn Gramstad story could evolve into something unique for Nebraska’s program. It’s already pretty special, and Matt Rhule’s lofty praise of the transfer quarterback only adds to the intrigue.
Perhaps you’ve heard: The NAIA All-American shows up at Nebraska’s post-graduate camp June 10, catches the coaches’ eyes, and becomes part of a Husker quarterback room that has three scholarship players, including touted rookie Dylan Raiola, the likely starter.
Gramstad is perfect for the situation, or so it seems. He isn’t necessarily a threat to become a starter, but his wealth of experience could help the entire room, and he seems awfully happy to help in any way he can. Maybe he can climb the depth chart. Rhule always emphasizes competition.
Rhule notes the 6-foot, 190-pound Gramstad’s running ability. I like that Gramstad began his career at Northwestern (Iowa) as a safety. Rhule likes football players, pure and simple, and Gramstad gives a team ample athleticism at the QB position.
There’s also an unmistakable intangible, one that Rhule emphasizes.
“At the end of the day, let’s just say right now he comes in and he is the fourth quarterback,” Rhule told HuskerOnline. “I don’t know where he’ll end up. (But) you get down to the fourth quarterback, and you have a guy who’s won big games.”
Gramstad led the Red Raiders to a national runner-up finish this past season, falling to Keiser (Florida) in the championship game. In 2022, Northwestern won the NAIA national championship with Gramstad under center.
“Winners are winners,” said Rhule, adding, “Winners, when they go into a game day, expect to win. When something goes wrong, they laugh at it. It gets them mad. They come back and play better, and when the game gets close, they go out and they win.
“We’re trying to instill that mindset here.”
No reason to harp on Nebraska’s 8-30 record in one-score games since 2018.
“This is a guy who’s a winner,” Rhule said of Gramstad, a self-described Husker fan. “I think the more winners you put around you — they practice that way, they walk that way, they act that way in the locker room. They’re not a victim. They’re not weak-minded; they’re tough-minded.
“When the day comes, if we turn to Jalyn, we’ll say, ‘Hey, go win the game for us,’ and he’s going to expect to win. That’s infectious.”
Raider Red Big RedThank you, Jalyn, for your contributions Northwestern College and Red Raider football. We are looking forward to seeing you Stand Out in your future playing and coaching career!: https://t.co/Vdtkq0l1Zq#RaidersStandOut pic.twitter.com/rScVtQT9aR— Northwestern College Football (@nwc_fb) June 20, 2024
“We’re fighting for this campus”
One of the most defining aspects of Rhule’s first season in charge last year was his decision to put the team in the bare bones of the Selleck Quadrangle dormitory for two weeks of training camp.
It had been decades since Nebraska had the team live in a dorm for camp.
Make no mistake, it tested the players. Discomfort tests all of us.
Nebraska players and coaches — yes, Rhule included — will be back in the dorm again when training camp begins July 31. They’ll be in there for nearly two weeks.
“I think it’s really important that we reset ourselves back on campus,” Rhule said. “You know, we’re fighting for this campus.”
What’s not to like about that mentality?
“I think it’s really important that we reset ourselves as team,” Rhule added. “The guys are still going to be on their phones. But not being at home — not playing a video game by yourself — I loved the interaction last year.”
Ten years from now, he said, Nebraska players will be talking about their experiences in Selleck.
Sure enough, I still talk about my experiences in Abel Hall — some of them, anyway. LOL.
Rhule identifies the most challenging part of June
As recently as Rhule’s tenure at Baylor (2017 to 2019), college coaches weren’t allowed to work with their current players on the field this time of year, he said.
June was pretty quiet in general.
That all has changed.
Now, of course, June is packed. Rhule and his staff just finished playing host to a series of youth camps that drew 4,300 participants from 37 states. All the while, Nebraska coaches played host to a slew of recruits on hand for official visits.
“The rules have changed,” Rhule said. “I think the key is — the key is — you have to be great in recruiting and great at camps, but you cannot neglect your own team.”
For instance, June is a heavy installation period for current players. So, yes, it’s a key period of preparation for the coming season. Thing is, Rhule seems to have emerged from it all raring for more, as opposed to being visibly worn out.
He loves the sport, obviously, and seemingly loves his job. Even in June.
Rhule also has important July plans
So, yes, college football coaches are winding down a jam-packed month.
Rhule, though, has some important July plans. I get the impression he’s not taking much of a break.
“I’m going to be around the office a little bit — I’ll take maybe a couple days (off) later in July,” he said before adding, “I think it’s really important that the players don’t see me every day, that they don’t see the coaches.”
Current players see plenty of the coaching staff in June. But come July, coaches get a break — actual vacation time — and player leadership becomes of paramount importance.
However, “I’ll be around, I’ll get my work done,” Rhule said. “I work on a lot of situational football and training camp stuff during that time. A lot of my job’s not about football, so July is a chance for me to really dive back into the football part.”
I like the year-round nature of the college game. There’s always something to write about.
Theres Two Sides to Every Story pic.twitter.com/VY6yDXP2JQ— Ceyair (@ceyairr) June 27, 2023
Here and there …
***Senior Turner Corcoran has returned full-go from injury and will play tackle even though he’s capable of playing guard and even center, Rhule said. The 6-foot-6, 310-pound Corcoran, with 31 career starts, supplies needed experience behind projected starters Bryce Benhart (41 career starts) and Teddy Prochazka (11). Bottom line, Corcoran adds ample value to the overall tackle picture.
***Based on his comments to HuskerOnline, Rhule will be in no hurry to name a starting quarterback in August. But Rhule made a key comment in saying that somebody is going to get appreciably more work with the first-unit offense than the backup units. In other words, it should become clear to the team who is leading the race.
No reason to just hand the job to Raiola, right?
***All signs point to Nebraska landing USC cornerback Ceyair Wright, an 11-game starter for the Trojans in 2022, out of the transfer portal, with an announcement coming perhaps early this week. I can remember few other summers that featured as many interesting storylines as this one. It’s been fun. Let’s keep it rolling in July, right up to Big Ten Media Days late in the month.
Is it just me, or does it seem like the head coach is having fun, too?
It’s kind of refreshing.
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The post Steven Sipple: Rhule emphasizes Gramstad’s “infectious” attitude; Nebraska to go back into dorm; and coach eyes deep football dive appeared first on On3.
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