The best coaches listen, which is key now more than ever

Welcome to the middle of a three-day dead period in Division I college football recruiting. Let's dive in to what Nebraska's been up to.

Photo courtesy Nebraska Athletics

Welcome to the middle of a three-day dead period in Division I college football recruiting. This particular dead period runs Jan. 13-15, but it’s short lived. The contact period returns on Jan. 16, allowing a couple of more weeks for visits before another quiet period rolls in Feb. 2.

As for what Nebraska’s staff is up to in the meantime, it’s Charlotte for the 2025 AFCA Convention.¹ Coach Matt Rhule isn’t a featured speaker at this year’s event, but he was quoted quite a bit for what he had to say at 2024’s event.

“The best coaches listen,” he said. “The best coaches ask questions. The best coaches create conversation. The best coaches try to remove themselves as far out as they can and try to keep themselves as far out as they can. They’re the minimum effective dose. Like, I’ll step in and do this but then I’ll step back. 

“... It takes confidence to be a great coach because you have to know the material and you have to know the material so well that you’re willing to listen to a player who might say something different, so I think you have to be able to listen.”

Re-visiting that quote now feels poignant considering Brandon’s thoughts yesterday on how Nebraska football may be changing in Year 3 of the Rhule era. We know the Huskers need to increase their talent level — and do so with new limitations on roster sizes — and it seems Rhule is taking that to heart.