But a culture clash? “Not at all,” Rhule insisted during his game-week press conference Monday.
“I think they’re a competitive culture,” Rhule said. “They go recruit and get the best players they can get. They do well in school. They don’t get in trouble off the field and they compete. I respect that with what they do.”
With that, the Huskers’ second-year coach avoided giving the Buffaloes any bulletin board material for Saturday night's clash in LIncoln. He also heaped praise on Colorado’s playmakers on offense, including Sanders’ son Shedeur, the Buffs’ starting quarterback. The CU-Nebraska series, he said, is “a great rivalry that I grew up on. A lot of those rivalries are dead now, so it’s great to play it.”
But a “great rivalry“ doesn't mean special motivational schemes are being used this week. “I’m just trying to get the football right and nothing else,” he said. “I’m not going to not wear black this week and I’m not going to not say their name. ... I’m just going to keep bringing the guys back to ‘hey guys, let’s execute. Let’s play third down. Let’s protect the football. Let’s not fumble on the seven-yard line.’ For all we’ve talked about not fumbling, we fumbled on the seven yard line [Saturday against UTEP]. We have a lot more work to do here.”
He did implore fans to bring the noise Saturday. “Let’s all be Nebraska Nice on Sunday,” Rhule said. “It should be a loud, loud, raucous atmosphere.”
