Big Red Buzz: competition at the whistle
Benning says Rhule builds coaching staff able to blend energy, thougtfulness and caring
By News Channel NebraskaNEBRASKA CITY – Husker Radio Network analyst Damon Benning offered enthusiasm over the staff built by Coach Matt Rhule for the 2025 campaign and the player culture exposed by the blowing of a whistle.
He spoke Thursday for the Big Red Buzz audience at Valentino’s Restaurant in Nebraska City after watching Nebraska’s full-pad practice.
- “To watch the vibe and the spirit and the tenacity at which they got after it at the drop of a whistle being blown, I kind of harken back. That’s how it should be.”
- “Justin Evans, he wants to start at center and Justin Evans is not a nice person. The more intense he is, the more intense you’ve got to be.”
Coaching staff
- “Number one, Coach Butler is a tremendous football mind and I think Coach Rhule wanted a guy that would have (in-game) answers.”
John Butler, previously the team’s secondary coach and pass game coordinator, was named defensive coordinator in December. He coached defensive backs for the Buffalo Bills for six seasons. Mike Ekeler was hired as special teams coordinator in February.
- “You could feel the energy of the special teams meeting. I don’t know what was going on in there. I’m not vouching to say they are going to, you know, make 80 fields goals. I’m not talking about performance, I’m just talking about the buy in.”
- “A guy like Butler who is very cerebral, thoughtful and a teacher, you need a guy like Addison Williams (hired in December as defensive backs coach) who is a really good technicians and is really good with the young men. … You need a guy like Phil Snow (hired as associate head coach in December). You can’t put a puzzle together if you have all edge pieces, right?
- “The offensive side is ever better.” (Glenn Thomas is co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach)
He called quarterback coach Glenn Thomas a thoughtful, great technician and Offensive Coordinator Dana Holgorsen a natural communicator of technical concepts.
- “Coach Rhule gave, he gave Coach Holgorsen ‘carte blanche’ to pick who he wanted on the offensive staff.”
Benning denied advocating for his Big Red Buzz audience to drink the proverbial Kool-Aid, but …
- “On paper the staff is markedly better than a year ago.”
Recruiting and retention
- “The guys they’ve been in on the last two years, really high-profile guys, you don’t get as far down the road without winning without being about some substance.”
- “They made this a place that is very hard to leave. He tells the difference between a house and a home, he’s made this a home. It’s not an infrastructure. It’s not a house. That’s why guys are so reluctant.”