Nebraska Cornhuskers head football coach Matt Rhule. Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports

Nebraska HC's 'sanctimonious' comments fuel old rivalry

By Ethan Petrik | Last updated 4/19/23

Matt Rhule, who became Nebraska football coach in November, is already fueling one of the program’s old rivalries.

During a recent media availability, he seemingly took a swipe at new Colorado head coach Deion Sanders.

“I hear other schools talking about they cannot wait for the day the transfer portal [opens],” Rhule said. “They cannot wait…I cannot wait to coach my guys. I am not thinking about anyone else other than the team that is out here.”

Two days before Rhule’s comments, the Colorado football Twitter account posted a quote from Sanders directed toward prospects entering the portal following spring football.

The transfer portal is open and you know Coach Prime ain't hard to find. #GoBuffs pic.twitter.com/t02hm0rNEq
— Colorado Buffaloes Football (@CUBuffsFootball) April 15, 2023

Fans and sports media alike quickly noticed the contradicting mentalities between Coach Prime and Rhule, leading some to believe Rhule intended his comments as a dig at the Buffs. In his first year at Colorado, Sanders has tapped into the transfer portal to remake his team.

On ESPN's "Pardon the Interruption” on Tuesday, Michael Wilbon denounced Rhule’s comments as “sanctimonious” and an attempt by the coach to appear morally superior to Sanders.

Rhule vs Deion in everyone’s heads outside of Nebraska. pic.twitter.com/Zg6fU0Lntu
— Kaleb Henry (@iKalebHenry) April 18, 2023

While Wilbon’s cries of sanctimony might be sanctimonious themselves, the comments insured the dormant rivalry between old Big Eight foes Nebraska and Colorado may again take center stage. Nebraska now plays in the Big Ten while Colorado is in the Pac-12.

On Sept. 9, the Huskers visit the Buffs at Folsom Field for the 72^nd meeting between the teams.

“I am going to watch this game,” Wilbon's "PTI" partner Tony Kornheiser said. “I am going to watch a game between teams that were 1-11 last year and 4-8 last year, and I am going to watch it because it is old school versus new school.”

“I do not know if it was a shot at Deion," he added about Rhule's comments, "but I'm willing to believe it was and I like it.”

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