Matt Rhule on Nebraska captains not shaking hands with Iowa: ‘That’s not what we want to do’
Matt Rhule discussed the incident where Nebraska captains didn’t shake hands with Iowa players before last Friday’s game, stating, “That’s not what we want to do. That’s not the right way to handle it.” He explained that he was unaware of the decision at the time of the game or shortly after. Rhule suggested that the situation might have been influenced by the presence of several armed state troopers stationed on the Iowa logo at midfield, preventing the Nebraska team from gathering there for their usual pregame prayer. As a result, the team moved to the north end zone for their customary routine.
Rhule acknowledged that the incident left many Huskers feeling a mix of emotions, though he noted that those feelings were not expressed in the best way. He also pointed out that, throughout his coaching career, his teams have typically held brief gatherings at midfield during road games. He mentioned that last year, Colorado players were briefly upset by this tradition, as were USC personnel this season. Despite the pregame tension, Rhule emphasized that it didn’t carry over into the game, with no unsportsmanlike conduct penalties, late hits, or excessive trash talk. This was in contrast to other games on Saturday, which saw postgame altercations, including fights after Michigan’s win at Ohio State.
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